Nedved goal keeps Juve in touch with Milan

Juventus stayed in touch with champions Milan in the race for the Serie A 2004/05 title last night when Pavel Nedved won the points for his side with an 85th-minute goal against his former side.

Milan beat Parma 3-0 on Saturday to move on the 73-point mark. But Juventus were back on level terms yesterday following their hard-earned win at the Olympic Stadium to break a six-year jinx during which they had failed to beat Lazio in Rome.

With five matches to go the Serie A campaign is heading to an exciting run-in. The May 8 direct clash between the joint leaders will probably decide the issue.

Juve coach Fabio Capello had difficulties up front with Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended and David Trezeguet still suffering from an ankle injury. To add to Juve's woes captain Alessandro Del Piero limped off after 20 minutes, his place taken by Ruben Olivera.

Lazio held the upperhand for most of the match but it was Juve's Marcelo Zalayeta who fired the first real shot on goal. Angelo Peruzzi saved. The Lazio keeper was not fully fit and was replaced during half-time.

Lazio's Filippini went down to a Thuram charge in the Juve box just before the break but no penalty was given.

Midway through the second half, Nedved tested Casazza with a rasping drive which the substitute keeper somehow managed to keep out.

The goal that mattered arrived during some hot Juve pressure, Nedved finding space in the Lazio box before hitting home the winner.

Roma drifted dangerously close to the Serie A relegation zone after a 2-1 defeat to Sampdoria yesterday which also moved the Genoa club up to fourth place.

A first-half goal from Max Tonetto and a 79th-minute penalty from Francesco Flachi put Samp 2-0 up before an injury-time spot kick from Vincenzo Montella for Roma.

The result moves Sampdoria to 55 points, two more than Udinese in the fight for the fourth Champions League qualification spot.

Roma's season has appeared meaningless for several weeks but it has come alive now - their latest defeat leaves them just five points away from the relegation zone with five matches remaining.

Third-placed Inter suffered their first away defeat of the season at Messina with an injury-time goal from Brazilian defender Rafael giving the Sicilians a 2-1 comeback victory.

Palermo's bid for Champions League football looks over after their 1-0 defeat by bottom club Atalanta.

With the teams at the bottom of the table battling for every point, Roma risk getting drawn into a once unthinkable struggle against the drop. Although they are 12th Roma, who have spent just one season in Serie B in 1951-52, have by far the worst form in the league.

Coach Bruno Conti, who has yet to get a win since taking over from Luigi Del Neri, has to face the next four games without suspended captain and key striker Francesco Totti.

At the Luigi Ferraris stadium, Tonetto put Samp in front in the 33rd minute with a cool finish after some excellent work from the lively Flachi.

Flachi then made it 2-0 from the spot in the 79th minute after Roma's Argentine defender Leandro Cufre brought down Cristiano Doni inside the area.

Roma could certainly count themselves unlucky having twice hit the woodwork with a Mancini shot against the post and a Daniele De Rossi header against the bar.

Montella's injury time penalty was too late for any revival but a revival is exactly what Roma need to produce in the final weeks of the season.

Inter had led at Messina through a close-range effort from Argentine Julio Ricardo Cruz but Arturo Di Napoli brought the Sicilians level before Rafael's goal on the break ended Inter's recent impressive run of form.

Serie A

Atalanta 1 - Palermo 0
HT: 0-0. Att: 14,000

Bologna 0 - Fiorentina 0
Att: 17,000

Brescia 2 - Reggina 0
HT: 0-0. Att: 7,500

Chievo 1 - Cagliari 1
HT: 1-0. Att: 8,500

Lazio 0 - Juventus 1
HT: 0-0. Att: 48,000

Livorno 1 - Lecce 0
HT: 0-0. Att: 14,000

Messina 2 - Inter 1
HT: 0-0. Att: 33,000

Sampdoria 2 - Roma 1
HT: 1-0. Att: 22,000

Played On Saturday

Siena 2 - Udinese 3

Milan 3 - Parma 0

Leading Scorers

21 goals: Montella (Roma)

17 goals: Gilardino (Parma)

16 goals: Lucarelli (Livorno), Toni (Palermo)

15 goals: Adriano (Inter), Ibrahimovic (Juventus), Esposito (Cagliari)

Next Fixtures

Saturday: 6 p.m. Cagliari vs Reggina. 8.30 p.m. Fiorentina vs Milan.

Sunday: 3 p.m. Inter vs Siena; Juventus vs Bologna; Lecce vs Lazio; Messina vs Sampdoria; Parma vs Livorno; Roma vs Brescia; Udinese vs Atalanta. 8.30 p.m. Palermo vs Chievo.

Serie B

Ascoli vs Genoa: today

Torino vs Vicenza: today

Serie C1(A)

Acireale vs Pro Patria: 3-2
F. Andria vs Mantova: 0-1
Frosinone vs Lumezzane: 0-2
Lucchese vs Pistoiese: 0-0
Novara vs Grosseto: 1-0
Pavia vs Sangiovannese: 0-1
Prato vs Como: 1-2
Torres vs Pisa: 0-1
Spezia vs Vittoria: 2-0

Leading standings: Cremonese 67; Pavia 60; Mantova 58; Grosseto 57; Frosinone 56; Pistoiese 55; Spezia 50.

Serie C1(B)

Avellino vs Rimini: 1-1
Benevento vs Sora: 1-2
Chieti vs Padova: 0-2
Cittadella vs Giulianova: 2-0
Napoli vs Foggia: 3-2
Reggiana vs Fermana: 2-0
Sambenedettese vs Lanciano: 2-0
Teramo vs Spal: 0-0
Vis Pesaro vs Martina: 2-1

Leading standings: Rimini 63; Avellino 60; Napoli 56; Sambenedettese 47; Padova, Reggiana 46; Benevento 44; Lanciano 41.