AC Milan Clinches League Title
Tens of thousands of AC Milan fans took to the streets of the northern Italian city in celebration Sunday after Coach Carlo Ancelotti’s squad won its 17th league title with a 1-0 victory over its closest pursuer, AS Roma, in front of 81,000 at Giuseppe Meazza stadium in San Siro.
Ukrainian forward Andriy Shevchenko, the top striker in Serie A, scored the championship-clinching goal off a pass from Brazilian midfielder Kaka a mere 80 seconds into the match. It was Shevchenko’s 22nd goal of the season.
The game was not without controversy and was interrupted for several minutes when angry AS Roma fans hurled objects and firecrackers onto the field in protest of a non-call by referee Dominico Messina that also sparked an argument between the players.
The fans were furious that Messina either did not see -- or regarded as unintentional -- Shevchenko raising an arm and deflecting a free kick by AS Roma captain Francesco Totti in the 49th minute. They felt a penalty kick should have been awarded.
Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso was stunned by a thrown firecracker that exploded near him and Milan goalkeeper Dida was struck two or three times by thrown objects. Fabio Capello, AS Roma’s coach, had to appeal to the fans to remain calm.
In another Italian match of note, Saadi Kadafi, the son of Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi, made his Serie A debut, playing the last 15 minutes for Perugia in its 1-0 upset of 2003 champion Juventus. The younger Kadafi had been suspended most of the season after failing a drug test.
Valencia on Top
Valencia increased its lead atop the Spanish league with a 2-0 home victory over Real Betis on goals by Curro Torres and Ruben Baraja in front of 51,000 at the Mestalla stadium.
With three games to play, Valencia leads second-place Real Madrid, the defending champion, by four points and third-place Barcelona by six.
Barcelona stayed in title contention by routing Espanyol, 4-1, to the delight of 95,000 at Nou Camp. Javier Saviola scored twice and Ronaldinho and Giovanni Van Bronckhorst each had a goal.
Real Madrid’s chances suffered a setback when it lost, 2-0, at Deportivo La Coruna.
Smith Bids Adieu
England international Alan Smith said he can not afford to remain with Leeds United after the club was virtually assured of relegation from the English Premier League when it lost, 4-1, at Bolton Wanderers. “I’ve got an international career to think about and hopefully the Leeds United fans understand that,” he said.
Leicester City already is certain of dropping into the first division, and Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers are all but mathematically assured of also going down.
Chivas Edged
Chivas of Guadalajara, with backup goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera in superb form while playing in place of suspended starter Oswaldo Sanchez, held on for 83 minutes but finally succumbed to Club America, 1-0, Saturday in front of 65,000 at the Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara.
Chilean striker Reinaldo Navia scored the only goal in the Mexican league’s highest-profile game, after Talevera, 21, had time and again denied Club America, including saving a penalty kick by Cuauhtemoc Blanco.
Quick Passes
An unidentified gunman shot and killed Viktor Skripal, executive director of the Russian first division club Luch-Energia Vladivostok, near his home, Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency reported. The motive for the slaying was not immediately known.... Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba of Olympique Marseille was voted player of the year in France, ahead of AS Monaco captain Ludovic Giuly. Didier Deschamps, who has guided AS Monaco to the European Champions League semifinals, was named coach of the year.... Rene Bolf scored the only goal as Banik Ostrava beat Sigma Olomouc to win its first Czech championship in 23 years.
-- Compiled by Grahame L. Jones
