ROME, 19 September 2005 — Alessandro Del Piero scored two goals yesterday in his first start of the season, a 2-1 win over Ascoli that put Juventus into sole possession of first place in the Serie A after three matches.
Del Piero, reduced to a bench role by coach Fabio Capello in the first two games, converted a penalty in the 13th minute and then scored the match-winner in the 39th on a free kick. Ascoli defender Alfredo Cariello had equalized in the 32nd.
Del Piero last played in Juve’s loss to Inter Milan in the Italian Super Cup on Aug. 20, coming off the bench behind David Trezeguet and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. This time, he started in place of Ibrahimovic.
“I’m happy, it was a month since I last played,” Del Piero told Italy’s Sky TV. “I’m always serene. If there are problems they are discussed internally within the team. The fact that I am the captain of Juventus has a lot to do with my behavior.”
Del Piero never publicly complained at his lack of playing time.
“Alex won us the game today. I already said (before the game) that I saw he was doing well,” Capello said. “This is a long season and there will be space for everyone. Whoever is out must wait their turn, like Del Piero.”
Defending champion Juve now has a perfect nine points.
Fiorentina, Lazio and Palermo also won Sunday and are tied for second with seven points. Champions League runner-up AC Milan suffered its first loss of the season, 2-1 at Sampdoria, and is in 10th place with four points.
After former Parma striker Alberto Gilardino scored his first goal for Milan in the 17th, Sampdoria went ahead on goals by Emiliano Bonazzoli and Max Tonetto.
Fiorentina beat Udinese 4-2 behind two goals from Luca Toni, giving the Italy striker four goals and an early lead atop the league scoring list. He also scored a hat trick for the national team earlier this month.
In Rome, 37-year-old Paolo Di Canio provided two assists to help Lazio defeat newly promoted Treviso 3-1.
Palermo, which upset Inter last week, extended its impressive form with a 2-1 win at Siena, where Nigerian striker Stephen Makinwa scored a 57th-minute winner.
Also Sunday, Chievo Verona got two goals from Daniele Franceschini in a 3-1 win at Reggina and Cagliari — led by its third different coach in as many matches — was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Messina.
On Saturday, Inter bounced back with a 3-0 win over Lecce in the rain at San Siro. Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins, midfielder Dejan Stankovic and second-half substitute Julio Ricardo Cruz scored for Inter.
Owen Scores as Newcastle Finally Wins; Liverpool, Manchester Draw
In London, Michael Owen scored his first goal for Newcastle on yesterday, helping the Magpies to a 3-0 Premier League victory over Blackburn. Owen’s 68th-minute header came five minutes after Alan Shearer had opened the scoring with a free kick.
Newcastle defender Steven Taylor was sent off in the 72nd for a second yellow card.
Newcastle’s first win of the season was assured when Charles N’Zogbia added a third goal with five minutes remaining.
Also Sunday, Liverpool kept its fourth straight league clean sheet on Sunday, playing a 0-0 draw with Manchester United. Wigan drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough and Bolton won 1-0 at Manchester City. On Monday, Arsenal hosts Everton. Owen joined Newcastle on Aug. 31 on a four-year deal. Sunday was Newcastle’s first win in five league games.
At Anfield, the match had plenty of passion but few chances on target. It was the first 0-0 draw between Manchester United and Liverpool since 1991.
Liverpool has only scored one league goal this season, with Benitez preferring a more defensively minded style.
United captain Roy Keane broke a bone in his left foot in a late challenge from Luis Garcia and will be sidelined for up to two months.
Bolton won with an injury-time penalty from Gary Speed, earned when Richard Dunne handled Henrik Pedersen’s chip into the area.
City dominated the match but Bolton ‘keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen stopped two shots from Antoine Sibierski, Kiki Musampa hit the post twice and Sun Jihai hit the crossbar.
Henri Camara came off the bench to earn to Wigan a point against Middlesbrough. His 68th-minute equalizer canceled out Aiyegbeni Yakubu’s 14th-minute strike.
Chelsea leads the standings with 18 points after a 2-0 win over Charlton on Saturday. Hernan Crespo and Arjen Robben scored in five second-half minutes to give Chelsea its sixth straight win without conceding a goal, while Charlton lost its perfect start to the season.
Tottenham was held to a 1-1 draw by Aston Villa and West Ham beat Fulham 2-1.
Last-place Sunderland drew 1-1 with West Bromwich Albion. Birmingham’s Nicky Butt was sent off in the final minute of the first half but his team held on for a 1-1 draw at Portsmouth.
In the Football League Championship, Norwich beat Ipswich 1-0 and Derby drew 2-2 with Southampton. Sheffield United lead the standings with 24 points, followed by Reading with 20 and Watford and Luton with 17.
Modest Getafe Claim Top Spot
After 4-3 Win at Alaves
In Madrid, Bernd Schuster’s Getafe claimed top spot in the Primera Liga for the first time in their history thanks to a pulsating 4-3 win at Alaves yesterday.
The modest Madrid-based side, who played in the top flight for the first time last season, had to twice come from behind in the first half, goals from midfielder Jaime Gavilan and striker Riki canceling out a double from Nene, one of which came from the penalty spot.
Riki then put Getafe 3-2 up with his second seven minutes before the break when he volleyed home with the outside of his left foot.
Defender Mariano Pernia stretched the Getafe lead early in the second half when he curled a free kick over the wall and into the top corner, but the action was not over.
Brazilian forward Nene notched his hat-trick with a second penalty in the 65th minute, but it was still not enough to prevent his side slipping to defeat.
