ROME, 22 December 2003 — AC Milan, who had not been beaten in Serie A this season, slumped to a 2-1 home defeat to in-form Udinese yesterday.
Fellow big guns Juventus were held 1-1 at lowly Lecce which meant leaders AS Roma, 2-0 winners at Empoli on Saturday, stayed top on 36 points with a healthy six-point advantage.
Udinese arrived at the San Siro stadium on the back of three consecutive league wins and dented Milan’s hopes in the second minute when striker Dino Fava fired past Brazilian keeper Dida from the edge of the area.
A clumsy challenge by Udinese keeper Morgan De Sanctis on Brazilian midfielder Serginho earned the home side a penalty, but midfielder Andrea Pirlo’s usual composure deserted him and he pushed the ball against the post.
Udinese made it 2-0 six minutes after the interval when defender Nestor Sensini nodded Valerio Bertotto’s powerful free kick past Dida.
Milan’s Brazilian winger Cafu pulled one back for the home side in the 70th minute, but the visitors withstood a period of late pressure to hold on for the win and go seventh, level with Parma on 24 points.
Lecce started the day in 16th position and few expected them to offer much resistance to Juve, who demolished Parma 4-0 last weekend. But striker Ernesto Chevanton was especially energetic, closing down quickly on loose passes and harrying keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Elsewhere, a goal by striker Federico Cossato gave Chievo Verona a 1-0 win over Ancona, lifting them back into the top half of the table.
Ancona are one of two Serie A team without a win this season. The other, Perugia, twice took the lead against Brescia, but the match finished 2-2.
Man. United Go Top After 2-1 Win at Spurs
In London, Manchester United swept to the top of the English Premier League with a 2-1 away win over Tottenham Hotspur yesterday.
United manager Alex Ferguson opted to include Rio Ferdinand two days after he was sentenced to an eight month ban for missing a drugs test — beginning in January — but the England defender had little to do in a game dominated by the champions, at least for the first hour. They went ahead in 16th minute when defender John O’Shea got his toe to a low corner and made it 2-0 in the 23rd with a deflected Ruud van Nistelrooy shot following some slick midfield passing.
Earlier yesterday, Southampton climbed to fourth on 26 points after thrashing local rivals Portsmouth 3-0 at St. Mary’s.
Douglas Save Helps Celtic Extend Unbeaten Run
In Glasgow, Celtic goalkeeper Robert Douglas made an inspired penalty stop to help the unbeaten Scottish Premier League leaders secure their 16th straight victory with a 2-0 win at Motherwell yesterday.
John Hartson (3) and Alan Thompson (71) scored Celtic’s goals but the contribution of Scotland international Douglas in saving from Derek Adams was equally important in ensuring three points from a breathless Fir Park encounter.
Local media reports earlier in the day suggested Douglas, who is vying with Sweden’s Magnus Hedman for a first team place, would seek a move away from Celtic in the January transfer window but manager Martin O’Neill said that was unlikely.
Celtic lead the standings on 49 points while champions Rangers, who beat Hearts 2-1 on Saturday, remain eights points behind their Glasgow rivals on 41.
In the day’s other match Dunfermline Athletic beat Hibernian 2-1 to share third place with Hearts on 29 points.
Deportivo Edge Out Espanyol to Stay in Title Hunt
In Madrid, Deportivo Coruna had to come from behind to claim a fortunate 2-1 win at home to bottom club Espanyol yesterday and stay in touch with the Primera Liga leaders.
Espanyol took the lead with a Jordi Cruyff goal after 16 minutes but created few other clear chances and Deportivo equalized in first-half injury-time when Albert Luque lashed in after being teed up from a short free kick.
Another long-range Luque shot provided the winner 20 minutes after the break, with Moreno Torricelli deflecting the ball past his keeper at the near post.
