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Juventus, Inter and Milan win at Serie A
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-22 09:09
HEAD CLASH
The Brazilian striker's contribution to Inter's win was cut short 10 minutes
later, when he briefly lost consciousness following a clash of heads with
defender Andrea Raggi.
Adriano is carried
off the pitch after being injured during a Serie A soccer match against
Empoli at the San Siro stadium in Milan December 21, 2005.
[Reuters] | His substitute, Julio Cruz, kept Inter
on the right track, however, firing in their second goal from the edge of the
area just before halftime.
Empoli midfielder Ighli Vannucchi pulled one back for the visitors, but goals
by the in-form Luis Figo and Obafemi Martins re-established Inter's dominance.
While Inter versus Empoli promised to be a mismatch even before a ball had
been kicked, AC Milan's visit to Livorno was tipped to provide an upset.
Milan had lost four of their eight away games prior to visiting Livorno and
were playing a team whose excellent home record -- played eight, won six, lost
none -- suggested that three points would be hard to come by.
Livorno started brightly and created the first good chance, Cristiano
Lucarelli heading the ball over an open goal after a defensive mixup between
keeper Dida and defender Dario Simic.
Milan were showing only flashes of their usual slick passing game, but in the
23rd minute Kaka and Andriy Shevchenko combined to slip the ball to Alberto
Gilardino to go through alone on goal and beat keeper Marco Amelia.
Milan upped the pressure in the second half.
Fabio Galante cleared a Gilardino header off the line shortly after the
break, but could not prevent the 23-year-old striker grabbing his second goal on
the hour after a one-two by Shevchenko and Clarence Seedorf had cut through
Livorno's defence.
Shevchenko got the goal he deserved in the 71st minute, heading home from
Andrea Pirlo's free kick.
Fiorentina's win over Palermo, courtesy of Martin
Jorgensen's first-half strike, was a much more edgy affair, but opened up a
five-point lead on fifth-placed Livorno that could prove important when the
scramble for Champions League places begins later in the season.
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