Juventus back on top after defeating Lazio
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E-mail Xinhua, April 12, 2012
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Del Piero celebrated after scoring the winner in Juventus' 2-1 win over Lazio during a Serie A match on April 12, 2012. |
Juventus regained the top position in Serie A after substitute Alessandro Del Piero's decisive goal handed them a 2-1 win over Lazio at home on Wednesday.
The Turin outfit, still unbeaten this season, were toppled at the summit by AC Milan on Tuesday after the Rossoneri won 1-0 at Chievo, but Simone Pepe set them on their way on Wednesday with the opening goal after half an hour.
Stefano Mauri equalised for the visitors with a header just before the interval, but Del Piero grabbed an 82nd-minute winner with a superb free-kick to lift Antonio Conte's side a point above Milan with six games left.
Libor Kozak got his marching order in stoppage time for a second bookable offence to add to Lazio's misery.
Juve head coach Antonio Conte felt "regret and even anger" at his side having to scrape a victory.
"There is certainly some regret and even anger, as we dominated games and didn't close them off, which often ended up in draws. This was heading in a similar direction, as we were in control and not determined enough to get the final blow," he said.
"Unfortunately it was happening again today after an excellent first half and we allowed Lazio so little. We have to improve and grow, but the lads are achieving something extraordinary," he added.
Roma struck twice late in the second half to defeat Udinese 3-1 and keep their Champions League hopes alive.
Napoli's hopes of securing European football suffered another setback as Walter Mazzarri's side fell to a 3-1 home defeat to Atalanta and had Macedonian striker Goran Pandev sent off.
Diego Milito netted twice as Inter Milan snatched a 2-1 win to bolster their European bid at home to Siena.
Elsewhere, Parma cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Novara thanks to first-half goals from Sebastian Giovinco and Jonathan Moreira.
Cesena kept alive their slim hopes of avoiding the drop by salvaging a 1-1 draw at fellow strugglers Genoa.
Lecce's bid to escape relegation received another boost as they struck twice in the last two minutes to come from behind and claim a 2-1 win at 10-man Catania.
Fiorentina were held to a goalless home draw by Palermo.
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