Vincenzo Montella headed a late winner at the Olympic Stadium yesterday to give AS Roma a 3-2 victory over Inter Milan and keep the Italian first division leaders six points clear of the chasing pack. Montella, replacing injured Argentinian colleague Gabriel Batistuta, grabbed his second of the night - he also tried to claim his side's opener - to decide a thrilling match. That ensured Fabio Capello's side stay six points clear of Juventus, 2-0 victors at Udinese, and eight ahead of third-placed defending champions Lazio, who beat Brescia 1-0 Saturday. It was a thriller. Christian Vieri had struck first for Inter but then the league leaders hit back with two goals. Montella wheeled away in celebration for the first although he did not appear to get a touch to Assuncao's goalbound freekick. Montella was definitely the author of Roma's second, however, converting the rebound after another Assuncao freekick struck the bar. But Vieri equalised on the stroke of half-time to make it 2-2.
Finally Montella came up with his priceless strike after 86 minutes while Inter defender Bruno Cirillo was sent off in the closing minutes.
Earlier, goals from Gianluca Zambrotta and Filippo Inzaghi had earned Juventus victory but it was not without controversy. Juventus took the lead after 38 minutes when Alessandro Del Piero's freekick was saved by goalkeeper Luigi Turci but Zambrotta pounced on the rebound. A hectic spell in the second half decided the outcome. First Udinese had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Massimo De Santis who earned notoriety last season after a hugely controversial decision in favour of Juventus almost handed them the title at Lazio's expense. A minute later Del Piero's freekick was headed home by Inzaghi.
Del Piero and Udinese's Brazilian defender Alberto were later sent off. Juve coach Carlo Ancelotti said: "It was a good win on a poor quality pitch. It pleases me that we are playing with such a sense of purpose. As for the Scudetto (title) that is all we have to aim at."
In Spain, Barcelona president Joan Gaspart led a chorus of criticism towards referee Jose Javier Losantos Omar yesterday after his decision to disallow a last-minute Rivaldo strike denied the Catalans victory over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Saturday.
"I feel like I've had my wallet stolen," said Gaspart after a 2-2 draw that saw Real extend their lead at the top of the table to five points. "I think someone has decided that Barcelona shouldn't win the league this year."
Barcelona certainly face an uphill struggle to get back in contention as the result left them in fourth place in the table, nine points behind Real with 13 games to play.
A few seconds before the end of a riveting clash between two outstanding, attack-minded teams they appeared to have cut that lead to six points, though. Rivaldo, who had already struck twice to cancel out close-range goals from Raul, sent in a low, left-foot shot that was deflected past Iker Casillas.
But as the Brazilian forward raised his arms in triumph, the referee ruled the "goal" offside, deciding that the three Barcelona players running back were interfering with play - despite the fact that the final touch on the shot came from Real's Ivan Helguera.
Surprisingly, opinion was united in both cities that the referee's decision had led to an unjust result. "The decision to disallow Rivaldo's third goal will go down in the black legend of Madrid-Barca games," intoned the Madrid-based sports daily As.
Marca's front page said simply, "The goal is legal," before adding: "Barca deserved to win for their performance and for the disallowed goal."
Barcelona-based Sport and El Mundo Deportivo both decried a "robbery" on their front pages.
