AC Milan and Juventus opened up a four-point gap at the top of Serie A on Sunday with comfortable wins over Brescia and Sampdoria, while challengers AS Roma were held to a goalless draw at Inter Milan.

Shevchiko celebrates his goal.

Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon saved an early Roberto Baggio penalty but midfielder Pavel Nedved and striker David Trezeguet struck for the Italian champions before halftime in Turin to guide them to a 2-0 win.

Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko's seventh and eighth goals of the season helped wrap up a 3-0 win for Milan at promoted Sampdoria after his Danish strike partner Jon Dahl Tomasson had given them the lead just before the interval.

AC Milan and Juve have 19 points, while Roma follow them on 15 points.

Alberto Zaccheroni's debut as Inter Milan coach, after taking over from the sacked Hector Cuper last week, began with a pre-match protest from Inter fans furious at the team's form, including a 3-0 Champions league defeat to Lokomotiv Moscow.

Although Sunday's draw leaves Inter trailing the leaders by nine points, Zaccheroni, and perhaps the supporters, will take heart from a battling display that could easily have ended in victory.

Deep into injury time Inter striker Christian Vieri struck the post from two metres and Inter had an effort from substitute Julio Ricardo Cruz disallowed in the 77th minute for hand ball.

But until the final 20 minutes Roma had created the clearer chances in what was, for long stretches, a scrappy game.

Francesco Totti forced a good save out of Francesco Toldo on the half hour and after the break Francisco Lima and Daniele De Rossi were also off target from good positions.

Inter are without a win in their last five Serie A games.

UNDERDOGS

Brescia, with one win in their previous six matches, began as underdogs at Turin's Stadio delle Alpi but earned a penalty in the fourth minute when Juventus defender Ciro Ferrara barged striker Andrea Caracciolo.

Ex-Juve striker Baggio stepped up but his effort was saved and two minutes later the home side had taken the lead.

Winger Gianluca Zambrotta dashed down the left and cut the ball across the area for midfielder Nedved to spin and beat goalkeeper Sebastian Saja with a right-footed shot.

Juve completed the victory just before halftime when Mauro Camoranesi crossed from the right and French international striker Trezeguet headed into the net.

Juve's chief Serie A challengers, AC Milan, also enjoyed an easy win against promoted Sampdoria, despite starting without injured striker Filippo Inzaghi.

Sampdoria's Francesco Antonioli did well to parry a long-range effort by Milan's Rui Costa in the early stages but the former AS Roma keeper mistimed a run out of goal in the 38th minute to gift the ball to Milan defender Dario Simic.

Simic picked out Tomasson and the Danish international slid the ball into the empty net.

In the 59th minute Shevchenko produced a cool left-footed finish after Brazilian midfielder Serginho used his speed to open up Sampdoria's defence on the left. The Ukrainian then headed his second goal in the final seconds.

TOP SCORER

Shevchenko consolidated his position as Serie A's top marksman this season. Parma's Brazilian striker Adriano, who scored in his side's 3-0 victory over Modena, has seven goals.

Elsewhere, fifth-placed Lazio won 2-1 after a frantic final 10 minutes against Bologna.

After a sterile first half Lazio coach Roberto Mancini brought on striker Simone Inzaghi.

The decision paid off seven minutes from time as Inzaghi charged down a ball in the area and chipped it over Gianluca Pagliuca.

The celebrations turned sour four minutes later when a deflected own goal by midfielder Ousmane Dabo brought Bologna level, but there was still time for Italian international striker Bernardo Corradi to head an 89th-minute winner.

Close

Today's Top News		Top Sports News
+Thousands homeless in sub-zero temperatures ( 2003-10-27) +Framework for closer trade ties in sight ( 2003-10-27) +Survey: House price rises slow down ( 2003-10-27) +Referendum rally by separatists on island condemned ( 2003-10-27) +Euthanasia faces ethical and legal dilemmas ( 2003-10-27)		+China unveils logo and mascot for 2004 Asian Cup ( 2003-10-27) +Juventus and Milan go clear as Inter hold Roma ( 2003-10-27) +Chongqing beat Shenzhen 1-0 in Chinese first division soccer league ( 2003-10-27) +Clijsters caps return to No.1 with eighth title of 2003 ( 2003-10-27) +China counts down to Asian Cup, China 2004 ( 2003-10-27)