Shevchenko show stuns Roma

Double strike
Andriy Shevchenko, who converted the winning penalty in last May's UEFA Champions League final shoot-out, was again the hero for the visitors, scoring twice in a 2-1 victory watched in nearly 150 countries.

Ancelotti delight
Roma went into the game on the back of seven straight home wins and having conceded only one goal at the Stadio Olimpico all season. Yet they were no match for Milan, for whom Rui Costa and Andrea Pirlo were in magnificent form. "We controlled midfield, had better possession and created more chances for Shevchenko. It was exactly what I wanted," coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

Good goals
Shevchenko opened the scoring in the 25th minute, controlling a pass from Clarence Seedorf before flicking the ball beyond Roma goalkeeper Ivan Pelizzoli. The home side were level seconds before half-time when Antonio Cassano converted from close range. However, Milan dominated after the break and Shevchenko made no mistake with a low drive just after the hour following an incisive run by Rui Costa. Third-placed Milan are now just three points adrift of Roma with a game in hand.

Lazio stumble
S.S. Lazio's title hopes receded with a 2-1 defeat at Reggina Calcio. Not since 1998 have Lazio avoided defeat in their first game of the new year and, despite taking the lead through Fabio Liverani, second-half headers from David Di Michele and Francesco Cozza maintained this sequence.

Inter climb
Second-placed Juventus FC are now three points behind Roma after a 1-0 home victory against struggling AC Perugia. Pavel Nedved paraded his European Footballer of the Year award prior to kick-off and underlined his importance to Juve with a 29th-minute winner. FC Internazionale beat US Lecce 3-1 with goals from Julio Cruz, Iván Córdoba and Christian Vieri. Cruz's equaliser on 50 minutes set up Inter's comeback which Vieri crowned with his 100th goal in Nerazzurri colours.

Barone goals
A double from Simone Barone earned sixth-placed Parma AC a 2-0 win at bottom club Ancona Calcio, while two goals each from Roberto Baggio and Stefano Mauri gave Brescia Calcio a 4-2 victory against AC Siena. Bologna FC beat Empoli FC 2-1 despite the absence of new signing Hidetoshi Nakata, with Fabio Pecchia heading a late winner to move his side five points above the relegation zone.

Away wins
Elsewhere, Francesco Flachi secured a 1-0 win for UC Sampdoria at Udinese Calcio, while Federico Cossato, Salvatore Lanna and Andrea Barzagli struck in AC Chievo Verona's 3-0 success at Modena FC.