|
Italian Serie A round-up
29/08/2005 10:36 - (SA)
|
|
|
 |
|
| Juventus' David Trezeguet points during the Italian Serie A match against ChievoVerona at Turin's Della Alpi stadium. (Massimo Pinca, AP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stefano Blin
Rome - Juventus began the defence of their Serie A title with a scrappy 1-0 home win over Chievo on Sunday.
French striker David Trezeguet scored the only goal in the 36th minute, rising high to head Gianluca Zambrotta's left-wing cross past Alberto Fontana.
Juventus toiled away in search of more goals but they lacked a cutting edge in the final third with Trezeguet and Zlatan Ibrahimovic spurning good opportunities and Fontana making some excellent saves.
Victory for the reigning Italian champions extended their 100% league record over Chievo to nine matches.
Trezeguet admitted his team did not play to their full potential.
"It was a very difficult match but the most important thing was to win," he said.
"It was the first game of the season and we tired in the second half, but all that counts is the result."
Earlier on Sunday, Adriano scored a hat-trick as Inter Milan crushed Treviso 3-0 at the San Siro.
The 23-year-old Brazilian striker broke the deadlock with a flashing drive before doubling his tally with a cool finish midway through the second half after good work from Dejan Stankovic.
Lethal left foot
Adriano's lethal left foot drilled in a third goal 10 minutes from time to end the contest against the Serie A newcomers.
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was fuming at referee Massimo De Santis for not abandoning their match at newly-promoted Ascoli which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Beaten Champions League finalists last season, AC Milan were unable to play their normally fluent passing game on a waterlogged pitch and asked De Santis to call the match off several times.
"In certain parts of the pitch the surface was unplayable, especially down the wings," Ancelotti said.
"It shouldn't have been allowed to start. I accept the result, but for me it was dictated by the conditions.
"The ball stopped continuously in puddles and we couldn't play the way we know how. You can't judge Milan on this pitch."
Spared AC Milan's blushes
Andriy Shevchenko's right-footed drive spared AC Milan's blushes after Mirko Cudini had put Ascoli ahead.
Udinese, who on Tuesday qualified for the group stages of the Champions League for the first time, won 1-0 at home to Empoli where Sulley Ali Muntari's angled volley separated the sides.
Roma, the 2001 champions, started their campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory away to Reggina with goals from Amanatino Mancini, Daniele De Rossi and Shabani Nonda.
Roma's city rivals Lazio also won, Macedonian striker Goran Padev grabbing the only goal at home to Messina in a match marred by racist chanting by Lazio's supporters aimed at Messina's African defender Marco Zoro.
Elsewhere, Enrico Chiesa scored twice as Siena defeated Cagliari 2-1, while Palermo drew 1-1 away to Parma.
On Saturday Fiorentina won 2-1 at home to Sampdoria and Livorno won by the same score at home to Lecce.
- AFP
|
