AC Milan slow down pace at top of Serie A
By DPA, IANSSunday, January 16, 2011
ROME - Ruben Olivera’s volley levelled a prodigious lob from Zlatan Ibrahimovic as minnows Lecce rallied to clinch a 1-1 draw against Serie A leaders AC Milan.
The Swedish star profited from mild opposition from two Lecce defenders at the start of the second half and stunned goalkeeper Antonio Rosati with a drooping shot from the distance.
The Rossoneri did little in Lecce in the first half, with wide drives from Mathieu Flamini, Gennaro Gattuso and Brazilian striker Pato, who on 40 minutes nodded wide off a cross from Clarence Seedorf.
Brazil defender Thiago Silva on 45 minutes also fired high above the bar after the home defence managed to block a goal-bound run from Ibrahimovic.
After his 11th goal this season, the Swede fired a powerful but central free kick before Uruguayan Guillermo Giacomazzi saw his close-range effort slapped by Milan goalkeeper Marco Amelia.
After David Di Michele had a firm shot deflected on the post, Olivera volleyed home off a corner kick with eight minutes to play and Rosati on 85 minutes saved Lecce as he blocked a nasty volley from Ibra.
Earlier Sunday, Lazio won 1-0 against visiting Sampdoria to draw level with Napoli in second place, four points behind Milan.
Napoli drew 0-0 at home to Fiorentina Saturday in a dull performance that pushed them on to 37 points from 20 games as the league began its second half.
Also Saturday, champions Inter had Dejan Stankovic and Diego Milito on target before a Samuel Eto’o brace in a 4-1 home beating of Bologna.
The Nerazzurri are Wednesday at home to Cesena the first of two games in hand as they lag nine points behind their cross-town rivals.
Sunday in Rome, Czech Libor Kozak nodded home Lazio’s winner seven minutes from time, while fourth-place Roma had to thank a blunder from Argentine Maximiliano Pellegrino, who with one minute left flicked a cross from Brazilian Fabio Simplicio into his own goal.
Goals abounded in Genoa, where top scorer Antonio Di Natale notched his 14th goal as he captained Udinese to a 4-2 win in the seaside town.
In Turin, Juve closed a run of two straight defeats with a hard-fought 2-1 beating of visiting bottom side Bari.
Struggling newcomers Brescia won 2-0 against 10-man Parma and Catania drew 1-1 at home to Chievo.
Cagliari won 3-1 at home against Palermo in a noon game that pushed them into a safe mid-table position, while Palermo remained one point behind Inter.
