Rome: Lazio joined Napoli in second place in Serie A with a 1-0 win over Sampdoria on Sunday following a late winner from substitute Libor Kozak.
The 21-year-old Czech forward headed in from the edge of the box in the 84th minute to break a deadlock at the Stadio Olimpico, then ripped his shirt off to celebrate, drawing a yellow card.
After a dull first half, Italy forward Giampaolo Pazzini threatened for Sampdoria in the 51st, wasting a good look with a shot high, and Kozak scored seven minutes after coming on.
AS Roma also got a late winner, with Fabio Simplicio directing the ball in off defender Max Pellegrino in the 89th for a 1-0 win at Cesena after Marco Borriello hit the crossbar and Adriano couldn't pound in the rebound.
On a day when all of the top clubs appeared headed for draws until the final minutes, injury-plagued Juventus pulled out a 2-1 win over Bari with a late winner from Alberto Aquilani.
With Vincenzo Iaquinta, Fabio Quagliarella, Amauri and newly signed Luca Toni all injured, 19-year-old Niccolo Giannetti started alongside Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero in attack.
Del Piero curved in a free kick over Cesena's wall to put Juve ahead in the 43rd. After Hungary forward Gergely Rudolf equalized in the 57th, Aquilani restored the lead with a powerful, bouncing shot from the edge of the area in the 79th to give goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon a victory in his first Serie A match since injuring his back at the World Cup.
While Juventus beat Catania 2-0 in the Italian Cup on Thursday, this was the Turin club's first win in Serie A since beating Lazio 2-1 on December 12.
AC Milan, which visited Lecce later, leads with 40 points. Lazio and Napoli are next with 37 each, Roma has 35, Juventus 34 and Inter Milan 32 with two matches to make up.
Napoli drew 0-0 with Fiorentina on Saturday and Inter beat Bologna 4-1.
Elsewhere Sunday, Antonio Di Natale scored his league-leading 14th goal as Udinese defeated Genoa 4-2 to move into eighth; Brescia beat 10-man Parma 2-0 to give coach Mario Beretta a much-needed win following three consecutive losses; and Catania and Chievo Verona drew 1-1.
Also, Cagliari beat Palermo 3-1 to put a dent in the Sicilian club's Champions League hopes.
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