Lazio flatten faltering Juve

Juventus FC fell to their second Serie A defeat in eight days when they were beaten 2-0 by S.S. Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

Flying header
The Turin side had been unbeaten in all competitions until last week's home defeat at the hands of FC Internazionale and after losing 2-0 to Galatasaray SK in midweek, Marcello Lippi's side slipped up in Rome to ensure they fell four points behind the leaders in the title race. Bernardo Corradi's flying header midway through the first half put Lazio on their way to victory and once Stefano Fiore had emphatically converted Corradi's cross just before half-time, Juve looked a beaten side.

Roma top
AS Roma climbed into top spot on Sunday night following their 3-0 away win against AC Chievo Verona. Francesco Totti, Alessandro Mancini and Antonio Cassano scored the goals for the visitors, who stretched their unbeaten start to the season to 12 games. Also undefeated are AC Milan, who were nudged off first place on goal difference by Roma. Carlo Ancelotti's side looked to be heading for a goalless draw against Empoli FC on Saturday, but substitute Kaka fired in a breathtaking long-range strike to secure all three points for the visitors.

Vieri double
Fourth-placed Inter are now only a point behind champions Juventus after their 2-1 win at home against AC Perugia kept them in the hunt. Christian Vieri was indebted to Julio Cruz's approach play for both of his goals, which preceded a late Giovanni Tedesco consolation for winless Perugia.

Comeback cut short
The other Serie A team still searching for their first win are Ancona Calcio, whose brave comeback against Bologna FC nevertheless saw them depart empty-handed. The home side were without a league victory since September themselves but raced into a three-goal lead thanks to Fabio Bilica's own goal and further strikes by Carlo Nervo - a wonderful finish from out wide - and Giuseppe Signori. Emanuele Troise's own goal gave the bottom club hope and Goran Pandev's curling strike made it 3-2, but there was no time for an equaliser after Ancona's Mauro Milanese had been sent off.

Morfeo denied
Elsewhere, Alberto Gilardino scored twice to give Parma AC a 2-1 away win against US Lecce, who had goalkeeper Vukasin Poleksic sent off in the first half. Substitute keeper Marco Amelia saved Domenic Morfeo's penalty but Gilardino twice nudged Parma ahead - the second goal after Ernesto Chevanton's spot-kick leveller - to keep them in fifth.

Jancker on target
In the weekend's other games, a solitary 87th-minute Carsten Jancker goal - his first for more than a year - gave Udinese Calcio all three points against visiting Reggina Calcio, UC Sampdoria moved up to seventh with a 2-1 win against AC Siena at the Luigi Ferarris and Modena FC drew 1-1 with Brescia Calcio.