Juventus blew the Serie A title race wide open with a shock 2-1 victory at leaders Inter Milan on Saturday night.
The third-placed team produced a remarkable performance to allow AS Roma, who beat Empoli 2-1 at home earlier in the day, to close to within just four points of the champions.
Argentine-born Italy midfielder Mauro Camoranesi opened the scoring for Juventus four minutes after the break from a suspiciously offside-looking position.
PHOTO: AP
And just past the hour mark, French forward David Trezeguet doubled the visitors' advantage to give Juve a lead over Inter Milan they never looked like relinquishing.
Portugal midfielder Maniche gave Inter late hope with a consolation goal seven minutes from time and he also hit the post in the dying moments, but it was not enough.
AS Roma overcame the loss of Simone Perrotta to a red card early in the second half to keep their title chase alive with their win over Empoli.
PHOTO: AP
They were locked at 1-1 when Perrotta was dismissed, but a goal from veteran defender Cristian Panucci sealed the three points.
Roma coach Luciano Spalletti praised his side for their resilience when down to 10 men.
"It was a great reaction on a heavy pitch with a numerical disadvantage," he said. "In 300 matches as a coach I've never yet had an easy one. Empoli are a good team with young players."
On loan Juventus youngster Sebastian Giovinco was a constant thorn in Roma's side. He should have put the visitors ahead on 13 minutes when he burst through into the area, but he smashed his shot straight at Brazilian goalkeeper Doni, who deflected the ball over the bar.
On 33 minutes he came even closer to giving plucky Empoli the lead with a long range strike that had Doni rooted to the spot, but which cannoned back off the post and away to safety.
Two minutes later Empoli paid the price for their profligacy as Roma took the lead. Captain and talisman Francesco Totti set Max Tonetto running into the box with a clever back heel and the left back kept his cool to finish at the near post.
But five minutes after the break Giovinco finally got the goal his performance deserved as he latched on to a cross from the marauding Ignazio Abate to slot home.
Things got worse for Roma as Perrotta was shown a straight red card for tripping Felice Piccolo.
But on 63 minutes the 10 men took the lead as Panucci headed home a free kick from the left from Chile international David Pizarro.
AC Milan kept up their chase for fourth place and a Champions League spot next season as they won 1-0 at Torino with a goal from Brazilian teenager Pato.
The 66th minute strike owed much to the work of Italy international Alberto Gilardino, who moments earlier had seen a shot from seven yards blocked by Torino goalkeeper Alberto Fontana.
But Gilardino got through again and despite falling over, he was up quickly to turn Fontana and beat him with a trickling cross shot that Pato poked over the line from inches out.
Torino had a great chance to equalize in the last quarter of an hour, but Milan's Australian goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac made a point blank save from Roberto Stellone.
Milan are still fifth, four points behind fourth-placed Fiorentina, who beat Lazio 1-0 in Florence.
Fiorentina came close to scoring when Giampaolo Pazzini headed a pass from Romania forward Adrian Mutu onto the bar midway through the second half.
But on 77 minutes, Pazzini broke the deadlock as he turned on to a pass from Fabio Liverani and shot low past veteran goalkeeper Marco Ballotta at the near post.
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jack Hinshelwood on Monday sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory against Liverpool to leave the English Premier League champions without a win since clinching the title. Arne Slot’s side took the lead through Harvey Elliott’s early opener before Yasin Ayari equalized at the American Express Stadium. Dominik Szoboszlai restored Liverpool’s advantage just before halftime, but Brighton staged a late fightback as Kaoru Mitoma leveled before Hinshelwood came off the bench to net with his first touch. Liverpool have taken just one point from their three matches following the title-clinching rout of Tottenham Hotspur on April 27. The Reds have lost at
Logan O’Hoppe, Taylor Ward and Matthew Lugo homered, and the Los Angeles Angels spoiled Clayton Kershaw’s season debut, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-9 on Saturday night to take the first two games of the three-game series. Kershaw allowed three runs and threw 38 pitches in the first inning. The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner lasted four innings, giving up five runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Shoulder, toe and knee injuries limited Kershaw to seven games last season, and his 2025 debut was delayed as he recovered from multiple offseason surgeries. O’Hoppe had two hits with
RSS