Football
Reuters 19y

UPDATE 1-Soccer-Vieira strikes to extend Juve's perfect start

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By Simon Evans

MILAN, Sept 21 - French midfielder Patrick Vieira
grabbed the winner as Juventus won 1-0 at Udinese in Serie A on
Wednesday to make it four wins out of four for the champions.

Fabio Capello's team lead by two points from Fiorentina, who
won 3-1 at Lecce, and Palermo, who beat visiting Reggina 1-0.

AC Milan bounced back from defeat at Sampdoria on Sunday to
secure a 2-0 win at home to Lazio with early goals from European
Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko and Brazilian Kaka.

Argentine defender Walter Samuel scored on his league debut
for Inter Milan who won 1-0 at Chievo, while Shabani Nonda was
on target twice for AS Roma in their 4-1 win at home to Parma.

Former Arsenal midfielder Vieira decided the outcome of what
was the toughest test of the season so far for Juventus with a
smart finish in the 37th minute.

Manuele Blasi swung in a deep cross from wide on the right
flank to Alessandro Del Piero who intelligently headed into the
path of the advancing Vieira and the Frenchman volleyed home.

Juve's Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has yet to
get off the mark in Serie A this season, was foiled by a superb
reflex save from Udinese keeper Morgan De Sanctis.

The home side, who after a promising start have lost their
last two games, went close to an equaliser when David Di Michele
lobbed Juve keeper Christian Abbiati but Croatian defender
Robert Kovac did well to clear off the line.

"It is a difficult moment for us but we really didn't
deserve that result," said Udinese coach Serse Cosmi, who
praised the way his side battled after the break.

IAQUINTA DROPPED

Udinese were without their Italy international striker
Vincenzo Iaquinta who was dropped due to a contract dispute with
the club and club president Giampaolo Pozzo said he could be
sold when the transfer window opens in January.

Milan and their coach Carlo Ancelotti came in for plenty of
criticism after their loss to Sampdoria but swiftly set about
restoring their self-confidence against a Lazio side who had
made a promising start to the campaign.

Shevchenko put Milan ahead with a well-taken solo goal in
the 12th minute, cutting in from the left flank and then
blasting a drive into the near post.

Two minutes later Ancelotti's side doubled their lead when
Lazio keeper Matteo Sereni let a harmless low cross from Andrea
Pirlo sneak under his body and Kaka had the simple task of
tapping into an empty net.

Former World Player of the Year Luis Figo set up the
decisive goal for Inter, four minutes after the break, with a
corner that was met superbly by former AS Roma and Real Madrid
defender Samuel but it was a hard battle for Inter against a
well-organised Chievo.

"It was a tricky test for us but we did well and the only
disappointment was that we had to suffer so much towards the
end," said Inter coach Roberto Mancini.

In-form Fiorentina fought back from 1-0 down for a
convincing win at Lecce thanks to goals from Stefano Fiore,
Valeri Bojinov and Luca Toni.

Palermo defender Christian Terlizzi now has four goals from
as many games after getting the winner against Reggina that
leaves the Sicilian club in joint second place with Fiorentina.

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