Mon, Sep 15, 2003 - Page 19 News List

AC Milan remains unbeaten following win against Bologna

AP , ROME

The Inzaghi brothers helped Lazio and AC Milan earn a perfect two-win start in the Serie A Saturday.

Simone Inzaghi scored early and veteran Demetrio Albertini converted a second-half penalty to give Lazio a 2-1 victory at Sampdoria.

Filippo "Pippo" Inzaghi, Simone's elder brother, netted a late game winner for AC Milan as the European champion struggled to a 2-1 home win against Bologna at San Siro.

Ukrainian star forward Andriy Shevchenko headed in the opening goal for the Milan team, which got its second from Inzaghi only in the 85th.

It was Shevchenko's third goal in two league matches while Inzaghi's goal added to the hat-trick at San Siro last week in an European qualifier against Wales.

On Sunday, defending champion Juventus, AS Roma and Inter Milan have a chance to tie Lazio and AC Milan at six points.

La Juve, the defending league champion, is at Chievo, AS Roma plays host to Brescia and Inter Milan is at Serie A newcomer Siena.

At Marassi Stadium in Genoa, La Samp squandered a chance to even Simone Inzaghi's opening goal when Cristiano Doni kicked a penalty slowly and goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi saved it in the 16th minute.

It was a bittersweet return to Marassi for Roberto Mancini, Lazio's coach, who was a star-forward for Sampdoria for 15 years.

Sampdoria supporters gave Mancini a standing ovation before the kickoff.

Mancini did not exult when his players netted the two goals that contributed to a 4-1 victory in the season opener against Lecce two weeks ago.

The Serie A did not play the previous weekend because of Euro 2004 qualifying.

"I am pleased with the victory of my team, but also sorry for La Samp defeat," Mancini said. "You can't cancel 15 years all of a sudden. However, now I must look ahead to think of Lazio. We suffered a lot in the second half."

Inzaghi gave Lazio a 1-0 lead kicking in from a few meters as he was fed by Dejan Stankovic's header after eight minutes.

Albertini, who joined Lazio in the offseason, converted a 64th-minute penalty after Bernardo Corradi, fielded as a substitute seconds before, was fouled by Maurizio Domizzi deep in the area.

A powerful header by Fabio Bazzani gave Sampdoria its only goal in the 73rd.

The home team fielded Japan's Atsushi Yanagisawa and Francesco Flachi to strengthen the offense in the closing minutes, but Lazio's defense, masterminded by Jaap Stam, did not allow clear opportunities for the equalizer.

La Samp was left with one point in the standings as was Bologna, which had hoped to escape with a draw at San Siro -- until Inzaghi ended the suffering of coach Carlo Ancelotti and the nearly 60,000 fans.

AC Milan was without its Brazilian stars Kaka and Rivaldo.

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