MILAN, 21 November 2005 — Italy international Luca Toni scored twice to earn Fiorentina a hugely impressive 3-1 win over AC Milan which left the clubs level in second place in Serie A yesterday.
Leaders and champions Juventus, who won 4-1 at AS Roma on Saturday, have 33 points, five ahead of Milan and Fiorentina.
Another Tuscan club, Livorno, are in fourth place after their 2-0 win over Empoli although Inter Milan can overtake them if they beat Parma at the San Siro later.
Aimo Diana and Francesco Flachi earned Sampdoria a 2-0 win over Lazio, and Palermo fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Treviso.
Toni, Serie A’s top scorer, headed Fiorentina in front in the 10th minute when he was left unattended by the Milan defense to nod in a Manuel Pasqual free kick at the back post.
Milan, who had won their previous eight Serie A matches, fought back 15 minutes later with Alberto Gilardino’s glancing header from Serginho’s cross sending them in level at the break. Just 35 seconds after the restart Martin Jorgensen restored Fiorentina’s lead after Milan’s Italy international defender Alessandro Nesta failed to deal with a cross from Pasqual and the Dane slid the ball home.
Milan thought they had grabbed an 85th-minute equalizer through Gilardino but the striker’s effort was ruled out for a foul on Marco Di Loreto and two minutes later the game was over. Toni struck with another stooping header, his 15th goal of the season, to give Fiorentina, who only avoided relegation on the last day of the season, a win that raises hopes of a return to the Champions League. Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was left angered by the Gilardino’s disallowed effort which would have made it 2-2.
Ferdinand Grabs Stoppage-Time Point for West Ham
In London, defender Anton Ferdinand headed a stoppage-time goal to earn West Ham United a 1-1 draw at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur yesterday.Spurs had seemed on course for victory on the back of a 16th-minute looping header by unmarked Egyptian striker Mido.
West Ham keeper Shaka Hislop prevented a second goal when he saved an overhead kick by Robbie Keane in the 53rd minute.
West Ham got stronger as the game progressed, however, with former Tottenham favorite Teddy Sheringham having a powerful shot brilliantly tipped over the bar by England keeper Paul Robinson in the 65th minute.
Their pressure paid off at the death when Ferdinand, the lookalike younger brother of England and Manchester United defender Rio, connected with a Paul Konchesky corner.
The result takes Tottenham to 21 points and sixth place, above Manchester City on goal difference.
Hearts Held by Aberdeen in Rix’s First Game
In Glasgow, Hearts missed the chance to go level with Scottish Premier League leaders Celtic when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Aberdeen in Graham Rix’s first game in charge yesterday.
Hearts have 36 points from 15 games, two behind Celtic who romped to a 3-0 home win over champions Rangers on Saturday.
Hibernian remain third with 31 points while Rangers are languishing in fourth spot on 23 points. Aberdeen’s Jamie Smith slotted home a low, angled shot from the right of the box into the bottom left hand corner to give his side the lead after 13 minutes at Pittodrie.
Hearts leveled through Czech Republic forward Rudi Skacel, whose 25-meter shot deflected off defender Zander Diamond and looped over keeper Ryan Esson midway through the second half.
