AC Milan defeated 10-man Napoli 1-0 yesterday on a late own-goal to move into sole possession of first place in the Serie A for the first time in 4 1/2 years.
Ronaldinho's 86th-minute free kick was headed by Napoli striker German Denis past his own goalkeeper, Gennaro Iezzo. A minute earlier, Iezzo saved a penalty by Kaka. Napoli's Christian Maggio received a second yellow card in the 44th.
"It has been a long time since we were in first place, but the best is yet to come," Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf said.
After opening the season with two losses, Milan has posted seven wins and a draw to be alone in first place the first time since May 2004 with 22 points, one ahead of Udinese and Inter Milan. Napoli is fourth with 20 points.
After scoring early, Udinese then fell behind in the second half before drawing even 2-2 with Genoa in the 78th minute on a goal by substitute Fabio Quagliarella, his fifth of the season.
"This team has great character, this is a game we would have lost last year," Udinese coach Pasquale Marino said. "After the first goal we were not able to exploit the situation to finish off the game, but the comeback shows me this team has great character."
In Rome, Lazio got a goal in the 85th from Pasquale Foggia to beat visiting Catania. With the win Lazio moves on to 19 points and fifth place.
Siena -- which has no losses at home this year and has allowed just one goal -- defeated visiting Fiorentina in a Tuscan derby with Houssine Kharja heading the only goal. Fiorentina had lost its last two away games, but was playing without Serie A goal leader Alberto Gilardino who was serving the second game of a two-game suspension.
Cagliari fell behind 1-0 to Bologna before responding with five unanswered goals including two each from Robert Acquafresca and Jeda. Bologna has given up 18 goals in 10 games with only last-place Reggina having conceded more goals.
At Milan's San Siro stadium, Napoli played aggressively in the first half with Argentine striker Ezequiel Lavezzi creating several good opportunities.
Playing with a man advantage, Milan took control from the start of the second half with Iezzo forced to dive to knock away a right-footed shot by Ronaldinho. A minute later, Seedorf shot just wide from the edge of the area.
Kaka hit the post in the 73rd and then almost scored after the ball bounced around the area. Two minutes later, Alexandre Pato headed just wide when faced with an open goal.
"Napoli played tough but we also showed toughness tonight," Seedorf said. "Sure, they played half the game with 10 players, but even in the first half we played well."
Napoli has not beaten Milan at the San Siro since 1986 when Diego Maradona scored in a 2-1 victory.
Also Sunday, Palermo defeated Chievo Verona 3-0 Sampdoria beat Torino 1-0 and Atalanta-Lecce ended in a scoreless draw.
In Udine, Gaetano D'Agostino scored with a penalty kick in the 4th minute for Udinese, which has an eight-game unbeaten streak. Genoa responded with a wave of attacks forcing Udinese's Slovenian goalkeeper, Samir Handanovic, to make three difficult saves in the first half.
Diego Milito converted a penalty in the 64th to draw Genoa even and three minutes later Giuseppe Sculli gave the visitors the lead until Quagliarella responded 10 minutes later.
The draw gave Genoa only its second point from away games. The team has five wins in five games at home, but has managed only two draws and three losses on the road.
Saturday, Inter Milan defeated Reggina 3-2 and Juventus beat AS Roma 2-0.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily November 3, 2008)