Serginho puts Milan on top

By Paolo Corradini

AC Milan went above Juventus FC at the top of Serie A on goal difference on Saturday night after an injury-time goal from substitute Serginho secured a 1-0 win against Cagliari Calcio. Earlier, Juve had drawn 0-0 at FC Messina Peloro. FC Internazionale Milano remain third, eleven points behind their Milan rivals, after drawing 1-1 at Udinese Calcio.

Serginho winner
A left-foot strike from Serginho two minutes into injury-time after a clever ball from Cafu gave Milan the victory at the Giuseppe Meazza. However the champions lost striker Andriy Shevchenko after nine minutes with a facial injury and the Ukraine international will miss Tuesday’s Uefa Champions League clash against Manchester United FC. Milan lost Giuseppe Pancaro for a second bookable offence with fourteen minutes to play, while Cagliari had Alessandro Agostini dismissed for protesting after Serginho’s goal.

Juve draw
In Sicily, Messina nearly took the lead against Juventus after 29 minutes when Riccardo Zampagna's diving header struck the post. Juventus hit back strongly in the second-half and on 62 minutes a close range effort from Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit the post. Nine minutes from time, the Swedish international had another great chance, but his short-range shot was saved by Messina goalkeeper Massimo Storari.

Udinese point
In Saturday's other match, Inter took the lead thanks to Juan Sebastian Veron's long-range effort 13 minutes after the interval. However, fourth-placed Udinese equalised in the last minute when Henok Goitom, in his first Serie A appearance, headed in.