Trezeguet treble not enough

A hat-trick from David Trezeguet salvaged a 3-3 draw for Juventus FC in a remarkable game against Serie A strugglers Empoli FC at the Carlo Castellani on Sunday evening.

Juve youngster
The French international striker scored three times to match the feat of Empoli's Tommaso Rocchi, the striker Juventus released as an 18-year-old in 1996, who had twice put the home side ahead. The opening goal arrived on 21 minutes when Rocchi, who scored Empoli's winner against FC Internazionale last week, poked a long ball past Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. Trezeguet responded with a goal either side of half-time but Rocchi levelled the scores with a 55th-minute header.

Blistering volley
The 26-year-old Empoli striker completed his hat-trick just past the hour with a blistering right-foot volley but Trezeguet nodded his third on 76 minutes to earn Juve a share of the spoils. But the result leaves the Turin club in third place, three points behind leaders AS Roma, who were held to a surprise 1-1 draw at home by Udinese Calcio earlier in the afternoon. Christian Panucci put the league leaders ahead on 15 minutes but with just two minutes left to play, Marek Jankulovski powered in an equaliser.

Milan march on
Those dropped points meant AC Milan strengthened their title bid with a comfortable 5-0 win against basement club Ancona Calcio. All five goals came in the second half as Andriy Shevchenko eased any Milan nerves with a 64th-minute penalty after Ancona's Roberto Maltagliati had handled in the area. Rui Costa doubled the lead and Jon Dahl Tomasson scored from the spot before Brazilian Kaka's doubled completed the rout to put Carlo Ancelotti's side a point behind Roma with a game in hand.

Toldo heroics
Milan's city rivals Inter were grateful to goalkeeper Francesco Toldo, who saved a spot-kick from Modena FC's Omar Milanetto in a 1-1 draw at the Alberto Braglia. Alvaro Recoba had given Inter the lead but Stephen Makinwa lobbed Toldo for the equaliser which kept Modena above Reggina just outside the relegation zone. Brescia Calcio missed the chance to pull even further away from trouble when they lost 3-1 to AC Chievo Verona, who scored twice in the last 17 minutes to seal victory.

Lazio rise
Parma AC remain level on points with Inter after playing out a goalless draw with Bologna FC at the Ennio Tardini while S.S. Lazio joined both of them on 32 points thanks to their 1-0 win against US Lecce. The day's other game saw AC Siena defeat AC Perugia by the odd goal in three to move up to tenth place in the standings.