ROME, 26 January 2004 — Portuguese playmaker Rui Costa ended a three-year goal drought as AC Milan thrashed bottom club Ancona 5-0 yesterday to close in on Serie A leaders AS Roma.

Milan’s win lifted them to second place on 42 points, one behind Roma, who were held 1-1 at home by Udinese.

Reigning champions Juventus, currently third on 39 points, play Empoli in a late match.The San Siro scoreline was hard on Ancona, who held out for more than an hour before crumbling spectacularly.

The game turned in the 64th minute when a handball by defender Roberto Maltagliati allowed Andriy Shevchenko to put Milan ahead from the penalty spot.

Inter Milan were also held to a 1-1 draw, at unfancied Modena.

Inter took the lead in the 11th minute when striker Alvaro Recoba turned and shot low past keeper Marco Ballotta.

Four minutes before the interval Modena leveled when 20-year-old Nigerian striker Ayodele Makinwa broke the offside trap and lobbed Francesco Toldo.

Inter were joined on 32 points by Lazio, who beat Lecce 1-0 thanks to a 55th-minute goal by Brazilian winger Cesar, and Parma, who drew 0-0 with Bologna.

United Amble Through, Wolves Upset in Cup

In London, Manchester United overcame a spirited Northampton Town to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 3-0 win over the third division side yesterday.

United striker Diego Forlan had an early penalty saved, but the Uruguayan redeemed himself with a goal which, added to a Mikael Silvestre effort and an own goal, saw the Premier League champions safely through.

The only upset of the day came at Molineux, where Premier League strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers were beaten 3-1 at home by first division West Ham United.

There will be two replays in London on Feb. 4 after Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 and a last-minute goal from Francis Jeffers kept Everton’s interest in the competition alive with a 1-1 home draw against Fulham.

Last season’s semifinalists Sheffield United also progressed with a 3-0 victory at fellow first division side Nottingham Forest.

Manchester United fielded a weakened side for the trip to Northampton but they looked set for an early breakthrough when a penalty was awarded for Chris Carruthers’ push on Ronaldo in the third minute — only for Lee Harper to save Forlan’s spot kick.

Northampton battled to keep the visitors out but in the 34th minute Ronaldo’s shot was deflected away from Harper by his own defender and Silvestre was on hand to bundle the ball into the net.

Just after the break Northampton defender Chris Hargreaves, under pressure from Forlan, put through his own net to double United’s lead.

Valencia Slip Leaves Real Madrid on Top

Valencia suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Osasuna yesterday to leave title favorites Real Madrid with a two-point advantage at the top of the table.

Valencia, needing to win to reclaim the lead after Real’s 2-1 victory over Villarreal on Saturday, had themselves to blame as centerback Mauricio Pellegrino scored a ridiculous own-goal at the end of the first half. Valencia created several good chances early in the second half but their form soon dipped again and the game finished on an ugly note when Italian defender Amedeo Carboni was sent off for stamping on Osasuna’s Pablo Garcia.

Monaco Survive French Cup Fright

In Paris, Ligue 1 leaders Monaco needed a penalty shootout to avoid a shock defeat at third division Valenciennes in the second round of the French Cup yesterday.

Unable to score during 120 minutes of play, the Champions League side finally overcame their defiant opponents from the spot 4-1.

The five times winners of the French Cup had a huge fright when Valenciennes Orlando Silvestri appeared to have scored in the 82th minute only for the striker to be called back for handling the ball before firing home. Toulouse were also forced to go to penalties before winning their goal-less encounter against Ligue one rivals Nice 5-4.