ROME Udinese went clear at the top of Serie A for the first time in their history after a 2-0 win over Lecce.
Gabriel Batistuta hit a second-half hat-trick as AS Roma came from behind to win 4-2 at Brescia and Juventus also got back to winning ways with French striker David Trezeguet scoring both their goals in a 2-0 win at Reggina. But out-of-sorts AC Milan had to pull back a two-goal deficit to get a 3-3 draw at home to Atlanta and Inter Milan also had to fight back for a 2-2 draw at Verona. Unbeaten Udinese have 13 points from the opening five games, after second half goals from Roberto Sosa and Massimo Margiotta saw Luigi de Canio's side past Lecce 2-0 to maintain their unbeaten record.
Udinese have been joint-top of Serie A three times in the past but have never held the position alone. Roma are one of the teams most likely to knock Udinese off their perch and they took the lead at Brescia in the 13th minute with a neat side-foot finish from French defender Vincent Candela. But Brescia, without the injured Roberto Baggio, pulled level nine minutes later with a strike from Pierpaolo Bisoli. Former Swiss international striker Kubilay Turkyilmaz was then brought down by Zago and Durio Hubner converted the penalty to give Brescia the lead at the break.
But the second half belonged to Batistuta, who with six goals after just five rounds of action, is already showing why Roma paid a club record $33.8 million to bring him from Fiorentina in the summer. Batistuta pulled Roma level on the hour when he pounced after a Zago shot had rattled out off the post and then the Argentine put Roma ahead with an almost identical goal 17 minutes later slotting home after Cafu struck the post.
Hat-Trick Batistuta secured the points and his hat-trick with a fine left foot shot in the final minute.
Milan, who have not won in Serie A since the opening day of the season, went behind in the 21st minute when Atalanta's Cristiano Doni found the target from close-range. Brazilian winger Serginho pulled Milan level but Atalanta restored their lead on the stroke of halftime when a Cristian Zanoni cross was handled by Milan defender Julio Cesar and Doni converted the penalty. Within a minute Atalanta went 3-1 up when Fausto Rossini headed in a cross from Zanoni. A close range shot from Oliver Bierhoff four minutes after the restart put Milan back in the game and then in the 64th minute Alberto Zaccheroni's side were given a fortunate penalty after Shevchenko was judged to have been pushed in the area.
The Ukrainian rose to convert the spot kick and give his side a point. Juventus Coach Carlo Ancelotti chose Trezeguet ahead of Filippo Inzaghi in attack for the trip to Reggina and the French international took full advantage of the opportunity.
He gave Juve the lead a minute before the break, taking advantage of an error by Reggina 'keeper Massimo Taibi and blasting into an empty net. Trezeguet wrapped up the game for Juve in the 62nd minute with a fine back post header from an Alessio Tacchinardi free-kick.
Inter fell behind to a 15th minute goal from Verona's Emiliano Bonazzoli but drew level 11 minutes later when Francisco Farinos drove home after some excellent work from Alvaro Recoba. Verona edged back in front in the 43rd minute thanks to a superb strike from Vincenzo Italiano, but the midfielder was instantly dismissed after he picked up a second yellow card for excessive goal celebrations.
With Verona down to 10 men for the entire second half Inter pushed forward and after a header from substitute Christian Vieri, playing his first game since his injury in May, hit the cross-bar, Hakan Sukur finally got the equalizer as he latched on to a long ball from Luigi di Biagio. Parma's Cameroon international striker Patrick Mboma followed up his two goals against Milan in midweek with a last minute diving header to gave Parma a 1-0 win at Bari.
Bottom club Napoli's troubles continued with a 2-1 defeat at home to Vicenza.
(Reuter)