Soccer: Roma join Chievo at top of Italian league

A goal from captain Francesco Totti helped AS Roma to defeat AC Milan 1-0 yesterday, putting the defending champions alongside Chievo at the top of the Italian first division.

Totti scored with a somewhat fortuitous goal which took a deflection off Milan's Argentine defender Jose Antonio Chamot and then deceived goalkeeper Christian Abbiati with an unusual bounce.

But it was enough for Roma to join Chievo, who had defeated previous leaders Inter Milan 2-1 at the San Siro.

Local rivals Verona did Chievo a big favour, downing Lazio 3-1 to end the recent good run by the Roman outfit.

That kept Lazio six points behind Chievo.

Turin giants Juventus did keep in touch with Chievo and Roma, however, when a first-half goal from veteran defender Ciro Ferrara and an injury-time clincher from Frenchman David Trezeguet helped them to see off Piacenza 2-0 and move ahead of Lazio into fourth place, five points behind the joint leaders.

Juventus coach Marcello Lippi fired a warning shot at Chievo, saying: "They have done very well, but there is a long way to go in the championship."

At the other end of the table, a 4-1 spanking for Parma at Atalanta heightened the pressure on their beleaguered Argentine coach Daniel Passarella, while bottom club Venezia posted their first win of the season, defeating Udinese 2-1.

In Spain, Alaves and Deportivo La Coruna both squandered chances to topple Real Madrid from pole position in the first division.

Real Madrid, the defending champions, went to the top of the table after a 3-1 win over relegation-threatened Real Sociedad.

Alaves surprisingly lost 1-0 at home to Sevilla, while Deportivo could only draw 1-1 at Malaga.

Real Madrid have 31 points from 17 games and lead on goal difference from Real Betis, who had a 1-0 victory over struggling Real Mallorca.

In England, Chelsea hammered premier league leaders Liverpool 4-0 and title rivals Leeds United were held 2-2 at home by Leicester City on a day of upsets which left the title race even wider open.

Liverpool's 12-match unbeaten run in the league came to a grinding halt at Stamford Bridge after Phil Thompson's side, who were without injured striker Michael Owen, were rocked by a third-minute strike from Graeme Le Saux.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink chipped in the second, goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini saved a 52nd-minute penalty, Sam Dalla Bona slid home the third and Eidur Gudjohnsen completed the rout in injury time.

Defeat for Liverpool keeps them only three points ahead of Arsenal and Newcastle United, four in front of Leeds and six over a rapidly reviving Manchester United.

Yesterday's results, which lifted Chelsea to fifth place, ahead of United on goal difference, point to this season being the most open in England for many years.

Leicester scored twice in the last 12 minutes, coming from 2-0 down to earn them a thrilling draw against Leeds.

- AGENCIES