Kaka keeps Milan on top and pressure on Juve
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-14 08:43

AC Milan hung on for a 1-0 win over Sampdoria in Serie A on Sunday with a 65th minute header from Brazilian Kaka, ensuring they keep the pressure on rivals Juventus.

Brazilian Kaka of AC Milan celebrates after scoring against Sampdoria during an Italian Serie A match at Milan's San Siro Stadium. Milan won 1-0. [AFP]

Milan lead on 63 points with Juventus, who play at Chievo Verona later on Sunday, three points behind in second place.

During a nervous finale for Milan, Sampdoria went close to a late equaliser when Francesco Flachi's shot was cleared off the line by Jaap Stam.

David Di Michele scored a hat-trick for Udinese as they enjoyed a shock 5-1 win at Palermo while Gianfranco Zola inspired Cagliari to a 3-0 victory over AS Roma -- scoring his side's opener and creating the second.

On Saturday, third-placed Inter Milan drew 1-1 at Lazio.

Milan have now notched up nine successive victories, including their two Champions League wins over Manchester United, and six of them have ended with a 1-0 scoreline in their favour.

"Above all it is the close attention we have been paying in defence that has been the crucial element in this run of results," said Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti.

The champions went close to a first-half opener when Rui Costa's deflected shot struck the cross-bar but Milan, who had to replace defenders Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini due to injuries, also suffered scares.

In the 62nd minute Belarussian Vitali Kutuzov, formerly with Milan, struck the post with a shot from inside the area but three minutes later Milan were ahead.

Kaka peeled away to the back post and met a splendid Andrea Pirlo cross with a perfectly placed header to beat Francesco Antonioli.

"That win came from character but I have to say that Sampdoria were really well organised at the back," said Ancelotti.

Roma's hopes of making a place in the Champions League are fading fast with Luigi Del Neri's side now nine points away from fourth place after a humiliating defeat in Sardinia.

Former Chelsea forward Zola put Cagliari in front in the 24th minute, latching on to a clearance from Roma defender Matteo Ferrari and firing home with a low drive.

The 38-year-old Zola set up Cagliari's second with a free-kick, which was slotted home by Mauro Esposito.

Three minutes after the break David Suazo made it 3-0 for the Sardinians and when Roma had their Italy international midfielder Daniele De Rossi sent off for a tackle from behind on Suazo, the game was over.

Udinese and Palermo have hopes of taking a place in Europe's elite competition next season and although Palermo started the game a point ahead of the North-Easterners that was far from reflected on the field.

Two well-taken goals from Di Michele put Udinese in charge within 36 minutes and then Ghanian midfielder Sulley Muntari made it 3-0 just before the break to leave the Sicilians with a huge task in the second half.

Any hopes of a revival were dashed when Di Michele completed his hat-trick in the 54th minute and although Mario Santana pulled one back for Palermo in the 70th minute, Vincenzo Iaquinta made it 5-1 before Eugenio Corini finished a sorry day for the home side by missing a penalty.

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