Milan: Substitute Alessandro Del Piero scored what could prove to be a decisive goal in the Serie A title race as he secured a 2-1 win for Juventus against Lazio on Wednesday.
Simone Pepe had given Juve a deserved lead with a stunning effort before Stefano Mauri headed in the equalizer on the stroke of halftime. It looked as if a combination of wayward finishing and good goalkeeping from Lazio's Federico Marchetti was going to cost Juve before Del Piero - in his last season for the Bianconeri - lashed home a free kick eight minutes from time. Juventus are a point ahead of defending champion AC Milan. Lazio remain in third on 54 points, only four points ahead of Roma which beat fourth-placed Udinese 3-1. Udinese have 51 points.
The home side dominated and could have taken the lead in the 10th minute when Fabio Quagliarella's effort hit Marchetti in the face. Juventus continued to pepper Lazio's goal and should have gone in front in the 28th when Quagliarella picked out Pepe, who narrowly missed from close range. The midfielder atoned for his miss two minutes later when he controlled Andrea Pirlo's pass on his chest before acrobatically volleying it in on the half turn. Arturo Vidal almost doubled Juve's lead when he spotted Marchetti off his line and tried his luck from inside his own half, but the goalkeeper got back in the nick of time.
Juventus were to regret their missed opportunities as Lazio equalized with their first real chance of the match, seconds from halftime, when Mauri headed Lionel Scaloni's cross into the top right corner. The home side came close to restoring its lead eight minutes after the break when Mirko Vucinic's effort scraped past the far right post from a tight angle. Antonio Conte brought Del Piero on in the 73rd minute and the veteran striker - who has scored vital goals against Inter Milan in the league and AC Milan in the Italian Cup recently - didn't disappoint, whipping home a stunning free kick. There was more disappointment for Lazio as Libor Kozak was sent off in stoppage time for a second booking, and the loss reignites rival Roma's chances of finishing third.
Gelson Fernandes leveled for Udinese two minutes from halftime after Pablo Osvaldo had given Roma an early lead. However, Francesco Totti scored into an empty net following good work from Osvaldo four minutes from time, before Marquinho sealed the result in stoppage time.
In Milan, it looked as if defensive mistakes were again going to let Inter down when Siena took the lead in the seventh minute. Gaetano D'Agostino stole the ball off Walter Samuel and raced towards goal. Mattia Destro and Franco Brienza both had good efforts saved by Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar before D'Agostino fired home Siena's third attempt.
Esteban Cambiasso thought he had leveled in the 23rd but his effort was ruled out for offside. Inter did level three minutes from halftime when Emanuele Pesoli inadvertently kicked Mauro Zarate's cross straight at Diego Milito who headed home. Inter were awarded a late penalty when Daniele Mannini tripped Yuto Nagatomo and Milito lashed it home to secure coach Andrea Stramaccioni's second win (2-1) in three games. Siena goalkeeper Gianluca Pegolo was sent off near the end for dissent.
Napoli's woeful form continues as they slipped to a third straight defeat, a 3-1 loss at home to Atalanta. Atalanta took the lead in the 10th minute when Giacomo Bonaventura volleyed into the far corner from a tight angle but Ezequiel Lavezzi equalized three minutes later, firing powerfully past the goalkeeper after Andrea Consigli had saved his first attempt.
However, Gianpaolo Bellini and Carlos Carmona sealed the result before Goran Pandev was sent off for Napoli for kicking out at Maxi Moralez. A dramatic finish at Catania saw Lecce win 2-1 and boost their survival chances. Catania looked set for victory following Gonzalo Bergessio' strike and David Di Michele's missed penalty for Lecce. But Daniele Corvia leveled in the 43rd and Di Michele scored the winner two minutes later after Catania goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo was sent off for a second booking.
Lecce is now only two points off 17th placed Genoa, which drew 1-1 with Cesena. Adrian Mutu leveled after Marco Rossi had given Genoa the lead. Parma are two points further ahead after goals from Sebastian Giovinco and Jonathan saw it beat Novara 2-0. Parma goalkeeper Antonio Mirante saved Marco Rigoni's spot kick. Meanwhile, Fiorentina drew 0-0 with Palermo.
####Also, a late penalty secured a 2-1 win for Inter against Siena. Roma beat Udinese 3-1.
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