ROME, 17 January 2005 — Second-placed AC Milan put the pressure on league leaders Juventus by coming from behind to beat Udinese 3-1 yesterday.
Victory for the reigning champions at the San Siro saw them move to within a point of Juve, who play away to Cagliari later.
Antonio Di Natale gave Udinese an early lead with a superb long-range strike before Andriy Shevchenko leveled the score with a tap-in just after the half hour mark for his 13th league goal of the season.
An own goal from Czech midfielder Marek Jankulovski gifted Milan a 2-1 lead before Brazilian Kaka’s solo effort ensured three valuable points.
The result capped a memorable day for AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini, who made his Serie A debut against the same opposition almost 20 years ago to the day.
Juventus have 43 points from their 18 matches played, while reigning champions AC Milan have 42 points but have played a game more. Udinese remain in third place, eight points behind AC Milan.
Palermo climbed to fifth behind Inter Milan after winning 3-1 at Lazio where Luca Toni netted a brace for the visiting Sicilians.
Palermo have 28 points, the same number as Sampdoria, who were held at home to Bologna.
Roma came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Chievo where Vincenzo Montella scored twice for the visitors, taking his league tally to 16, the best in Serie A.
Former Italy international Roberto Donadoni got off to a winning start as the new coach of Livorno with the Tuscany side beating Messina 3-1.
Bottom club Atalanta were held to a 1-1 draw by fellow strugglers Siena, while Parma boosted their chances of surviving the drop with a last-gasp 2-1 victory at home to Lecce.
In-form Udinese, who arrived at the San Siro having lost just once in their previous 13 matches, took the lead in the ninth minute.
Supersub Ferguson Earns Everton a Point at Boro
In Middlesbrough, England, Duncan Ferguson made a dramatic impact at the Riverside Stadium for more reasons than one after coming off the bench to help earn Everton a valuable 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough yesterday.
The controversial striker set-up Tim Cahill’s 75th-minute equalizer with his first touch of the game just 60 seconds after replacing Joseph Yobo to deny Middlesbrough the victory they needed to boost their hopes of Champions League qualification.
Moments later Ferguson caused more mayhem in the home defense when he lashed out at a seemingly loose ball following Mark Schwarzer’s goal-line fumble only to strike the Australian goalkeeper in the face instead.
His actions sparked a 21-man shoving and grappling match in the back of the Middlesbrough goal that brought a dramatic end to a game Boro seemed destined to win courtesy of Bolo Zenden’s first-half strike.
The result left Everton fourth, leading the hunt for the final Champions League place, and eight points clear of sixth-placed Boro.
Celtic Back on Top After Win at Aberdeen
In Glasgow, battling Celtic restored their three-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League with a 1-0 win at Aberdeen yesterday.
Striker Chris Sutton saw his 24th-minute shot deflect off Aberdeen defender Phil McGuire into the far corner of the net for what proved the winner before 17,051 fans at Pittodrie.
Champions Celtic sit at the summit with 56 points from 22 games. City rivals Rangers occupy second place with 53 points from the same number of games after dismissing Dunfermline 3-0 at Ibrox on Saturday
