MILAN, 3 May 2004 — AC Milan won their 17th Italian title yesterday with a 1-0 win over second-placed AS Roma.
A second-minute header from Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko gave Milan the victory, which leaves them with a nine point advantage over Roma and just two games remaining.
But there were ugly scenes as the game was interrupted twice in the second half after Roma fans hurled fireworks and missiles on to the pitch.
First, Milan’s Gennaro Gattuso was stunned by a powerful firework that exploded near him after Roma’s appeals for a penalty following a handball were controversially turned down.
Then Milan goalkeeper Dida had to receive medical attention after he was twice struck by objects thrown from the crowd.
Milan were firmly in control after the best possible start when Brazilian Kaka produced a pinpoint cross from the right and Shevchenko rose superbly to head past sprawling Roma keeper Ivan Pelizzoli for his 22nd league goal of the season.
Milan should have gone in 2-0 up at the break as just three minutes before the interval Kaka fed an unmarked Shevchenko but the Ukrainian screwed his shot wide from a promising position.
Roma were furious, though, four minutes after the restart when Francesco Totti’s free kick struck Shevchenko’s raised arm in the Milan wall and their penalty appeals were turned down.
There were surprise results elsewhere in Serie A with relegation-threatened Perugia beating third-placed Juventus 1-0 and lowly Lecce beating Inter Milan 2-1.
Liverpool Get Crucial Three Points in Euro Hunt
Liverpool retained possession of the crucial fourth and final Champions League spot for next season when they beat Middlesbrough 2-0 in their Premiership clash at Anfield yesterday.
After Newcastle’s surprise 1-0 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday left them equal on 53 points with Liverpool, the way was open for Liverpool to pull clear and make the crucial fourth place their own for now.
Aston Villa, though, are just a point behind Liverpool — who have to play Newcastle in the final match of the season — after beating Spurs 1-0 also yesterday to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches.
In fleeting moments at Anfield, Liverpool’s play was reminiscent of the club’s glory days of the past in contrast to their stuttering form this season but League Cup winners Boro were disappointing and rarely threatened.
Leeds United’s hopes of Premier League survival disappeared in eight awful second-half minutes on Sunday as a 1-0 lead turned into a 4-1 defeat at Bolton Wanderers that, barring a wonder, sent them down.
Al-Hilal Beat Zamalek 2-0: Arab Champions League
Staff Writers adds: Two quick goals in the first half put Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia on top in the Group Two standings when they defeated visitors Zamalek of Egypt 2-0 during their Arab Champions League match played at the King Fahd Stadium last night in Riyadh.
Hilal started the game aggressively and their tactics paid off when international Sami Al-Jaber found the mark in the 22nd minute. Hilal intensified their pressure and in the 40th minute African Kandi Trawari added one more to the tally.
Zamalek could not recover from the shock and failed to gain control of the game.
Meanwhile, three Saudi soccer players Marzouk Al-Otaibi and Saeed Al-Wadaani of Al-Ittihad Club and Walid Al-Jahdali of Al-Ahli Club have been suspended for one year and banned from taking part in Arab championships for their involvement in a fistfight following a match between the two teams in Jeddah last Friday.
The decision was taken by Prince Sultan ibn Fahd, chief of the Youth Welfare Presidency and chairman of the Arab Football Federation. The players were also fined $2,600. “Prince Sultan also decided to stop the three players from taking part in local matches until the end of this sports season,” a statement issued by the Saudi Football Federation said.
Prince Sultan urged all Arab players to keep up their sportsman spirit. He also noted the efforts made by officials of the two clubs to contain the situation.
