ROME: Sierra Leone international Rodney Strasser pounced five minutes from time to score the only goal of the game and send AC Milan five points clear at the top of Serie A with a 1-0 win at Cagliari yesterday.
Milan increased their lead at the top as Lazio were held to a 0-0 draw at Genoa while 10-man Juventus were stunned 4-1 at home by Parma.
Napoli could reduce the gap to three points if they win at Inter Milan in the day’s late game.
But 20-year-old Strasser proved the unlikely hero in Sardinia, netting his first ever goal in Serie A in an otherwise tight game.
Milan had the first chance as Robinho drew a fine save out of Cagliari goalkeeper Michael Agazzi down low to his left on 11 minutes.
The hosts came even closer than that just past the half hour mark as Michele Canini headed Andrea Cossu’s corner against the post.
Agazzi was forced into another brilliant one-handed save on 51 minutes from a fierce Pato drive.
But Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati almost handed the hosts the lead with a horror clearance straight to Brazilian forward Nene, only to make amends by diverting his shot behind.
Robinho had an even better chance midway through the second half when played in one-on-one with Agazzi by Brazilian strike-partner Pato but his first touch was woeful and ran straight through to the goalkeeper.
Agazzi was finally beaten five minutes from time when controversial and high-profile new Milan signing Antonio Cassano on his debut as a substitute slipped in fellow sub Strasser to slot home.
Milan extended their lead thanks to Lazio being held to a goalless draw in a dull match in Genoa.
Roma leapfrogged Juventus into fourth as they came back from 2-1 down to beat Catania 4-2 in Rome thanks to doubles by Marco Borriello and Mirko Vucinic - both the latter’s coming in the final five minutes.
On-loan forward Sebastian Giovinco sent out a message to his regular employers Juventus as he scored a brace for Parma.
Having struggled for the last couple of years to establish himself at Juve, Giovinco went on loan to Parma this season in a bid to find first team football.
But he came back to haunt his permanent employers with a well taken double that badly hits Juve’s title chances as they dropped to eight points behind Milan.
Following Giovinco’s brace Juve centre-back Nicola Legrottaglie pulled a goal back but Hernan Crespo’s penalty sealed the three points before substitute Raffaele Palladino’s injury-time finish added insult to injury.
Juve were eventually overrun largely due to playing most of the game with 10 men following Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo’s sending off for violent conduct after only 17 minutes.
At the bottom of the table basement sitters Bari boosted their slim hopes of survival by winnning 1-0 at second bottom Lecce while Cesena climbed out of the drop zone with a 2-1 win at Brescia, who replaced them.
Inter dropped to eighth ahead of their game as Udinese beat Chievo 2-0 to go seventh.
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