ROME, 19 December 2005 — Inter Milan and AC Milan revived their Serie A title hopes with emphatic 4-0 victories yesterday.
Inter thrashed Reggina in Calabria while Andriy Shevchenko scored twice as AC Milan trounced Messina at the San Siro.
Juventus, held to a 1-1 draw at Lazio on Saturday, have 43 points from their 16 matches played, followed by Inter on 35 and AC Milan on 34. Fiorentina dropped one place to fourth after they drew 1-1 at local rivals Empoli and surprise-package Livorno won 2-0 at Palermo to maintain their push for a place in Europe next season.
Fiorentina have 33 points, two more than fifth-placed Livorno.
Chievo climbed to sixth after defeating Udinese 2-0, while Cagliari boosted their chances of surviving the relegation dogfight with a 2-1 win against fellow strugglers Ascoli.
Parma gained a valuable point in their battle to stay up in a 2-2 draw at Siena. Sampdoria, dumped out of the UEFA Cup on Thursday, host Roma in yesterday’s late match.
Tottenham Earn Point in Lively 3-3 Draw at Middlesbrough
In London, Tottenham Hotspur earned a point in a lively, seesaw 3-3 draw at Middlesbrough yesterday to stay in touch with the Premier League title chasers.
Tottenham went ahead in the 25th minute, Robbie Keane’s shot bobbling into the net after Middlesbrough keeper Mark Schwartzer had failed to clear a high ball under challenge from Mido.
The home side’s reaction was to attack and they were rewarded five minutes later when Aiyegbeni Yakubu drifted clear of the Spurs defense, latched on to a Gareth Southgate header and volleyed home from six meters.
Yakubu was on hand in the 43rd too when midfielder James Morrison drilled a left-footed shot from 18 meters towards the goal and it deflected into the net off the Nigerian’s chest.
Spurs pulled it back to 2-2 18 minutes into the second half when Jermaine Jenas struck an exquisite free kick from 25 meters that curled over the end of the Middlesbrough wall and past the diving Schwartzer. But their elation was short-lived. Middlesbrough earned a corner five minutes later and Franck Queudrue headed the ball on to the underside of the crossbar from a corner.
Lackluster Celtic Frustrated by Inverness
In Glasgow, Celtic blew the chance to move six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League when they struggled to a 1-1 draw at Inverness Caledonian Thistle yesterday.
Celtic made a dreadful start when Craig Dargo clipped in the opening goal after just 31 seconds following a flick-on by player manager Craig Brewster.
Welsh striker John Hartson cracked home a marvelous equalizer on 21 minutes but Celtic survived a scare when Dargo’s penalty was saved by goalkeeper Artur Boruc on the half hour. The Polish keeper pulled off another fine save after 77 minutes to keep out a 30-meter free kick by Brewster. Celtic have 45 points from 19 games, four clear of Hearts who lost 1-0 to champions Rangers on Saturday. Hibernian are third with 37 points from 19 matches following their 2-1 win over Motherwell and Rangers are seven points back in fourth.
