ROME, 14 March 2005 — AC Milan opened up a three-point lead over Serie A title rivals Juventus after defeating Sampdoria 1-0 yesterday for their seventh consecutive league victory.
Brazilian midfielder Kaka scored the winner for the reigning champions, escaping his marker to head home Andrea Pirlo’s pinpoint cross in the 65th minute.
Milan’s win came at a heavy price though, with defenders Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta limping off in the first half.
Juventus can rejoin Milan at the top of the table if they win at Chievo in late match in Verona.
Udinese improved their chances of claiming a Champions League place next season by snatching fifth place from Palermo with a 5-1 win over the Sicilians.
Udinese, for whom David Di Michele netted a hat-trick, have 45 points, two more than Palermo.
Cagliari boosted their hopes of claiming a UEFA Cup place by beating Roma 3-0.
Former Chelsea striker Gianfranco Zola opened the scoring with a 25-yard drive before Mauro Esposito and David Suazo wrapped up a comfortable home victory for the Sardinians.
In other matches, bottom club Atalanta edged fellow strugglers Parma 1-0, Bologna drew 1-1 with Siena, Livorno beat relegation-threatened Brescia 3-2 and Messina won 2-1 at local rivals Reggina.
Chances were few and far between in the first half at the San Siro, but Milan came closest to breaking the deadlock when Manuel Rui Costa’s deflected drive struck the crossbar.
Sampdoria were also denied by the woodwork in the 62nd minute. Belarussian striker Vitaly Kutuzov turned sharply in the box and fired in an angled shot that rattled the post.
Milan, who knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League on Tuesday, broke Sampdoria’s resistance three minutes later.
Pirlo picked out Kaka whose firm header gave Francesco Antonioli no chance.
Sampdoria almost nicked an equalizer four minutes from time when Francesco Flachi rounded Nelson Dida and shot towards goal, but Dutch defender Jaap Stam blocked the Italy international’s effort to preserve Milan’s slender lead.
Defeat for Sampdoria left the Genoa club in fourth place on 47 points, behind Inter Milan on goal difference.
Newcastle and Blackburn Reach FA Cup Semifinals
In London, Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert fired Newcastle United into the FA Cup semifinals with the winner in a 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur yesterday, while Blackburn Rovers also squeezed through 1-0 against Leicester.
Kluivert, neatly set up by captain Alan Shearer, coolly finished into the far corner after five minutes at St. James’ Park in a game that finished with a rousing end-to-end finale.
Striker Paul Dickov converted an 83rd minute penalty to give Blackburn a scrappy victory over his old club, securing their first appearance in the last four since 1960.
Australian defender Lucas Neill had Blackburn’s other clear-cut chance, but his scuffed shot under pressure was easily gathered by Leicester keeper Ian Walker.
Dickov, who joined Blackburn this season after a two-year spell at Leicester, decided the tie when Norwegian midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen was floored by Kenton’s clumsy sliding challenge and his booming spot-kick gave Walker no chance.
The winning teams joined holders Manchester United, who thrashed Southampton 4-0 in their quarterfinal on Saturday, and Arsenal, who beat Bolton Wanderers 1-0, in Monday’s draw.
Leaders Rangers Leave It Till Late at Dundee
In Glasgow, Rangers clinched a 2-0 win at Dundee with two late goals to restore their four-point lead over champions Celtic in the Scottish Premier League yesterday.
Defender Marvin Andrews made the breakthrough against Dundee with a headed goal after 81 minutes and two minutes later Fernando Ricksen cracked home a decisive second.
Rangers are top on 75 points from 30 matches while Celtic, who thrashed Dunfermline 6-0 on Saturday, are second with 71 points from 28 games. Rangers have a goals difference of plus 49 and Celtic sit on plus 43.
Celtic play Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Wednesday at the Caledonian Stadium in a re-arranged SPL game. Aberdeen moved into third place on Saturday courtesy of a 3-0 home win against Hibernian. They have 48 points from their 29 league games.
Lincoln Strike Gives Schalke Victory Over Bayern
In Frankfurt, Schalke 04 grabbed a precious 1-0 win at home to Bayern Munich yesterday to move three points clear of their rivals at the top of the Bundesliga.
Brazilian midfielder Lincoln made the breakthrough in the 69th minute, sweeping a free kick past Oliver Kahn, and Schalke held on comfortably against a Bayern side that tired noticeably in the second half.
The result took Schalke above Bayern and into top spot with 53 points from 25 games.
Bayern have 50 points in second place, with VfB Stuttgart climbing to third on 45 points after they won 2-0 at Borussia Dortmund yesterday despite playing almost the entire second half with 10 men.
