Filippo Inzaghi got the winning goal against his old club Juventus as AC Milan kept themselves in the Serie A title race with a 2-1 win over the champions on Saturday. The victory means third-placed Milan move within five points of leaders Juventus. Milan also did a favour for city rivals Inter who can now go level at the top with Juve if they win at Udinese on Sunday.Carlo Ancelotti’s Milan went ahead in the fourth minute when Andriy Shevchenko latched on to a fine through ball from Rui Costa and although his first shot was blocked he recovered the ball and made space to score.But just six minutes later Juventus were on level terms when Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved fired in a free kick from wide on the left and it beat Milan’s Brazilian keeper Dida after appearing to take a deflection off Juve’s Igor Tudor.Inzaghi restored Milan’s advantage in the 25th minute after Andrea Pirlo floated a high ball into the penalty area and Inzaghi turned Juve defender Paolo Montero and slid the ball under the advancing Juve keeper Gianluigi Buffon.Juve had started with Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet, both short of full fitness, on the bench but Del Piero was introduced at the break as Juve coach Marcello Lippi looked to add some spark to his attack.Marcelo Zalayeta brought a fine save out of Dida with an explosive shot after he took down a through ball from Edgar Davids but shortly afterwards Lippi replaced Zalayeta with Trezeguet, giving his first-choice attack half an hour to turn the game around.But it was not until five minutes from the end that Juve really tested Dida again — the Brazilian keeper tipping a superb Nedved header against the bar.Lippi said Dida had been the man who ensured victory for Milan but added that his team had not matched Milan’s aggression. ‘‘They were more determined than us, much angrier than us andwe gave away a lot of ball to them in midfield. We were fine after the break but Dida was outstanding with those two saves to keep out Zalayeta and Nedved,’’ said Lippi. (Reuters)
