(Adds Lazion v Milan)
By James Eve
ROME, Feb 5 - Brief reports of Serie A matches
played on Sunday:
CAGLIARI 4 EMPOLI 1
A brace by Mauro Esposito and a goal each by Nelson Abeijon
and David Suazo lifted Cagliari three points clear of the
relegation zone. Francesco Tavano's goal was slim consolation
for Empoli, who have lost 10 of their last 12 matches.
- - - -
FIORENTINA 1 LECCE 0
Luca Toni's 37th-minute winner consolidated Fiorentina's
fourth place in Serie A and confirmed him as the division's
outstanding goalscorer. With 22 goals in 23 games so far, the
Italy international has a chance to challenge the all-time Serie
A record of 35 goals in a season set by AC Milan's Gunnar
Nordahl in 1949-50.
- - - -
INTER MILAN 1 CHIEVO VERONA 0
As in other matches this season Inter created a slew of
chances, but struggled to convert them. Julio Cruz scored the
only goal in the seventh minute, poking home from close range
after a Luis Figo free kick rebounded off the post. Victory kept
Inter within eight points of leaders Juventus.
- - - -
JUVENTUS 1 UDINESE 0
Juventus grabbed a controversial win over Udinese, who were
reduced to 10 men in the 37th minute when Sulley Muntari
received a second yellow card for a non-existent foul on Pavel
Nedved. Alessandro Del Piero scored the winner in the 70th
minute, turning home Gianluca Zambrotta's cross from an offside
position.
- - - -
LAZIO 0 AC MILAN 0
Milan failed to overturn Lazio's unbeaten record at the
Olympic Stadium this season. Andriy Shevchenko went closest to
breaking the deadlock when he forced home keeper Angelo Peruzzi
into a diving save to push a header on to the bar in the 70th
minute. Milan's second Serie A draw - after last week's 1-1
result with Sampdoria - left them 14 points adrift.
- - - -
LIVORNO 2 MESSINA 2
Two-nil up with 11 minutes to go, sixth-placed Livorno
looked on course for their first win in five matches. But two
handballs - the second in the final seconds of the match - gave
Messina two penalties, both converted by striker Arturo Di
Napoli.
- - - -
REGGINA 2 PALERMO 2
Reggina twice came from behind to grab a point against a
Palermo side that had beaten AC Milan 3-0 in the Italian Cup in
midweek. Carlos Paredes grabbed Reggina's second goal with a
superb overhead kick in stoppage time.
- - - -
SAMPDORIA 1 TREVISO 1
Sampdoria showed no sign of shaking off their erratic form
as they followed up last week's 1-1 tie against Milan with
another draw, this time against relegation-threatened Treviso.
Vitali Kutusov gave the home side the lead in the 30th
minute, but a second-half equaliser by Brazilian defender
Gustavo gave the visitors a well-deserved point.
- - - -
Played on Saturday:
PARMA 0 AS ROMA 3
Fifth-placed AS Roma racked up their seventh consecutive
Serie A win to continue their push for a place in next season's
Champions League. The 2001 Italian champions were dominant in
both halves, but had to wait until after the break before two
goals by winger Mancini and a Simone Perrotta lob sealed all
three points.
- - - -
SIENA 1 ASCOLI 1
Erjon Bogdani's 50th minute strike for the hosts cancelled
out a goal by Ascoli defender Gianluca Commotto just before
halftime.