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Juventus victory deals AC Milan title hopes severe blow

Juventus dealt a potentially fatal blow to AC Milan’s Champions League hopes with a 3-2 win in a in Turin on Saturday.

Goals from Alessandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet and Hassan Salihamidzich gave the hosts the edge over the reigning European champions, who counted two Filippo Inzaghi goals while Daniele Bonera was dismissed in the second half.

Juve thus closed the gap on second-placed AS Roma to seven points and they look almost certain to secure a place in Europe’s premier competition next season. Not so Milan who trail fourth-placed Fiorentina, who travelled to leaders Inter Milan yesterday, by four points but also have to contend with Udinese and Sampdoria in the battle for the final qualification spot.

Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri heaped praise on his victorious outfit.

“We’ve beaten the world champions. They played brillaintly down our wings in the first half,” he said. “In the second half we were better, we took control of territory and played the game we wanted to.”

“We’re playing a lot this week. First Parma and then Atalanta, we need to do our best, then we’ll see where we’re at,” Ranieri said. “We’re having an incredible season. Against Milan and Inter I sensed their teams have already consolidated.”

The game started at a frenetic pace and Del Piero put the hosts ahead on 12 minutes, latching on to a pass from Mauro Camoranesi to shoot across Australian goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac into the far corner, although defense and keeper should have done better.

Only a minute later Inzaghi flicked a close range effort wide after he met a cross from Giuseppe Favelli. But just a minute after that Milan were level as Kaka tricked his way past Giorgio Chiellini on the left before putting the ball on a plate for Inzaghi from close range.

Chiellini almost redeemed himself on 17 minutes but he headed a Del Piero corner just over the bar.

On 31 minutes the visitors went in front after a sublime move where Bonera played a pass into Massimo Ambrossini, who flicked the return over the defense for the full-back to square for Inzaghi to score a simple second.

But on the stroke of half-time Trezeguet put Juventus back in front with a goal that was actually credited to Salihamidzich. Camoranesi sent over an inviting cross and Trezeguet’s header was saved by Kalac only for Salihamidzich to bundle the rebound off Trezeguet and in.

In first-half injury time Juve stopper Gianluigi Buffon had to be alert to tip an effort from Gennaro Gattuso over the bar. Eight minutes into the second half, Kalac dived full length to his left to keep out a fierce long-range shot from Zdenek Grygera.

Milan’s hopes of earning victory took a blow on 66 minutes as Bonera was shown a straight red for going in with studs up on Momo Sissoko.

Then 10 minutes from time Salihamidzich rose to meet a Camoranesi free-kick to head home the winner.

Elsewhere Fabrizio Miccoli curled home a late free-kick to give Palermo a 1-0 win at home to Catania in the Sicilian derby.
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