Roma ensure Milan miss out

By Paolo Corradini

AC Milan missed a golden opportunity to significantly close the gap on Serie A leaders Juventus FC when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home against AS Roma on Sunday.

Shevchenko opener
Victory would have moved Carlo Ancelotti's defending champions within two points of Juve and they began the match incisively, Andriy Shevchenko opening the scoring after just six minutes when he headed in a perfect cross from Cafu.

Montella magic
However, the home side failed to take advantage of a string of chances that came their way and Roma levelled three minutes into the second half when Serie A's top scorer Vincenzo Montella left Milan goalkeeper Dida helpless with a close-range follow-up after hitting the crossbar. Milan pair Rui Costa and Hernán Crespo both missed chances to snatch victory late on.

Stankovic off
FC Internazionale Milano, the only remaining undefeated side following Juve's surprise loss at Reggina Calcio on Saturday, were held to a 1-1 draw away against ACF Fiorentina. The home side took the lead after 26 minutes when Dario Dainelli headed in Fabrizio Miccoli's corner. But Inter hit back in the second half and despite losing Dejan Stankovic to a red card for a second bookable offence, Adriano scored ten minutes from the end to secure Inter's seventh draw in nine Serie A matches.

Udinese third
Udinese Calcio came from behind to defeat US Lecce 4-3 and climb into third place as the day's only winners. Valeri Bojinov gave home side Lecce the lead in the first half but Marek Jankulovski levelled a minute before the interval. Bojinov scored again 12 minutes into the second half but Udinese hit back with two goals in quick succession from Antonio Di Natale and Vincenzo Iaquinta. Lecce striker Mirko Vucinec thought he had secured a draw with his late equaliser but Jankulovski kept his nerve to convert a penalty four minutes into added time.

Bologna comeback
Bologna FC twice came from behind to earn a point at home against FC Messina Peloro. Arturo Di Napoli gave the visitors an early lead but Bologna equalised through Massimo Loviso's powerful 30th-minute free-kick. Nicola Amoruso put Messina ahead again two minutes later but Giacomo Cipriani's 54th-minute effort restored parity.

Spoils shared
S.S. Lazio had to settle for a 1-1 draw against AC Siena. Fernando Couto's third goal of the season was not enough as Siena equalised midway through the second half through Daniele Portanova. Substitute Mariano Nicolas Gonzales was on target as US Città di Palermo drew 1-1 against Parma FC, his goal cancelling out an Alberto Gilardino effort. Meanwhile, Cagliari Calcio and winless Atalanta BC were held to goalless draws at home against Livorno Calcio and UC Sampdoria respectively.