By DPA,
Rome : A late goal by Brazilian Amauri gave Juventus a 2-1 win against Lecce to stay six points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan, while AC Milan kept in touch thanks to a 1-0 defeat of Catania.
Champions Inter Milan are leading the race with 36 points from 15 games while Juventus is on 30 points.
Lecce had the best of a dull opening half Sunday, but it was young Juventus playmaker Sebastian Giovinco who brought the game to life in the 57th minute, curling home a free kick in a fashion similar to that of the injured captain Alessandro Del Piero he was replacing.
Simone Tiribocchi and Argentine Jose Castillo both went close for Lecce before the home side was rewarded with seven minutes to go as Daniele Cacia fired a great volley past Alex Manninger.
A 90th-minute cross from Paolo De Ceglie, however, was fatal to Lecce’s defence, guilty of letting Amauri score his eighth goal with a majestic downward header.
Injury-plagued Milan had a rough time at home against Catania, in a pulsating game that saw Giuseppe Mascara hit a post for the guests and Brazilian star Kaka also shake the woodwork in the first half.
Catania’s Argentine goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri produced great saves on efforts from veteran defender Paolo Maldini and deflected a smashing free kick from young Brazilian Pato.
On the following corner, however, Bizzarri was stunned by his own defender, Lorenzo Stovini, in his attempt to prevent a deflection by Shevchenko off a Kaka header.
In remaining Sunday action, Fiorentina hammered lowly Torino 4-1 with a brace from Alberto Gilardino, who on 11 goals trails league top scorer Diego Milito.
The Argentine’s 12th goal late Sunday was a textbook header that gave Genoa a 1-0 win over Sampdoria in a hard-fought city derby.
Napoli beat Siena 2-0, Atalanta stunned Udinese 3-0, Cagliari won 1-0 against Palermo and Reggina and Bologna drew 2-2 in the relegation zone.