Late Del Piero strike gives Juve 2-1 win over Inter

Juventus' grip on Serie A tightened to a strangehold last night when a late goal by Alessandro Del Piero gave them a 2-1 win at nearest challengers Inter.

The striker's 85th-minute free-kick gave Juve 66 points from 25 matches, 12 ahead of Milan, who moved up to second with a 4-1 win at Reggina. Inter slipped to third, also on 54 points.

Juventus started the game at San Siro stadium aggressively, pinning Inter back on the edge of their area.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Emerson forced early saves from Julio Cesar while a low cross by Mauro Camoranesi flew dangerously across goal but somehow failed to find a Juve boot.

Gradually, though, Inter found a rhythm. Adriano's header was turned behind by a defender and Juve's Gianluigi Buffon came off his line to punch the ball away from Esteban Cambiasso.

Inter's players briefly thought they had taken the lead three minutes before half-time when Adriano curled a free-kick past Buffon but referee Gianluca Paparesta signalled that the kick had been taken before he was ready.

Inter continued to create chances after the break. Obafemi Martins sprinted down the right and crossed low into the path of Adriano but the Brazil forward was robbed of possession by Lilian Thuram before he could get his shot away.

In the end it was a lapse in concentration by Inter that allowed the visitors to take a 63rd-minute lead.

Camoranesi crossed to the far post where Ibrahimovic took advantage of a defensive mix-up between Javier Zanetti and Ivan Cordoba to sneak in front of both and slot the ball past Cesar.

Walter Samuel hauled Inter level in the 74th minute when he headed a corner past Buffon but with five minutes left a foul on Pavel Nedved just outside the area gave Del Piero the chance to curl a perfectly-weighted free-kick into the top corner.

Alvaro Recoba almost snatched a point for Inter when he blasted a free-kick against the woodwork in stoppage time but Juve hung on to leave Inter's Serie A challenge in tatters.

Milan made a shaky start at Reggina's Granillo stadium when their defence was caught out of position by midfielder Carlos Paredes who headed past Dida in the 10th minute.

Four minutes later, however, the visitors were level through Inzaghi, who was making only his third Serie A start of the season in place of the injured Andriy Shevchenko.

Playmaker Kaka ended a great solo run by slipping the ball to Inzaghi on the edge of the box and although the striker's initial effort was blocked by Ivan Pelizzoli, he made no mistake from the rebound.

His strike partner Alberto Gilardino put Milan ahead with a diving header shortly before half-time and Inzaghi grabbed two more after the break - the second in stoppage time to cap a vintage goal-poaching performance.

Fourth-placed Fiorentina arrived in Livorno full of confidence after a 2-0 midweek win over Inter but were second-best for most of the match against their Tuscan rivals.

Luca Toni missed a great chance to give Fiore the lead when he had a penalty saved by Marco Amelia at the end of the first half.

That miss cost Fiorentina dearly in the 65th minute when Per Kroldrup fouled Giuseppe Colucci to give Livorno a penalty of their own, which Lucarelli converted.

Lucarelli sealed the points for Livorno soon after, volleying in Francesco Coco's cross at the far post.

Fiore's defeat left in-form Roma breathing down their necks. The 2001 champions needed a little bit of luck to overcome a well-organised Siena side that twice hit the woodwork before late goals by Daniele De Rossi and Mancini wrapped up the win.

Fiorentina remain on 50 points from 25 games, now just four ahead of Roma in the race for European places.

Serie A

Cagliari 0
Lecce 0

Empoli 0
Palermo 1

Inter 1
Juventus 2

Livorno 2
Fiorentina 0

Parma 0
Ascoli 0

Reggina 1
Milan 4

Sampdoria 4
Messina 2

Siena 0
Roma 2

Played On Saturday

Treviso 1
Chievo 2

Lazio 1
Udinese 1

Top Scorers

22 goals Toni (Fiorentina)

18 goals Trezeguet (Juventus)

15 goals Totti (Roma)

14 goals Gilardino (Milan), Shevchenko (Milan), Lucarelli (Livorno) 13 goals Tavano (Empoli)

12 goals Adriano (Inter), Suazo (Cagliari)

Next Fixtures

Saturday
Livorno vs Inter (0-5) 6 p.m.
Messina vs Juventus (0-1) 6 p.m.
Milan vs Cagliari (2-0) 8.30 p.m.

Sunday - 3 p.m.
Chievo vs Palermo (2-2)
Fiorentina vs Lazio (0-1)
Lecce vs Reggina (0-2)
Roma vs Empoli (0-1)
Sampdoria vs Ascoli (1-2)
Treviso vs Parma (1-1)
Udinese vs Siena (3-2)
(Results first round in brackets)

Serie B

Playing Today
Avellino vs Catania (0-2) 9 p.m.
Cesena vs Cremonese (3-2) 7 p.m.