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During the three "Serie A" matches that took place on Saturday, all five clubs that are in the top five of the Italian championship played. "Milan" increased their lead over "Inter" in the battle for second place to 5 points, while the leader "Juventus" had to settle for a draw against "Roma". The match at the "San Siro" stadium began somewhat unexpectedly, as in the 13th minute the most prolific scorer of the "Fiorentina" team and of the entire Italian championship, Luca Toni, who has already scored 25 goals this season, put the visitors ahead. However, the hosts didn't like being behind and just 8 minutes later Andrei Shevchenko scored from a sharp angle to equalize the match. Just three minutes into the second half, after a precise pass from "Milan" defender Alessandro Costacurta, Brazilian Kaka directed the ball into the "Fiorentina" goal for the second time with his head, and 12 minutes later Gennaro Gattuso solidified the hosts' victory by scoring a third goal from the edge of the penalty area. These matches were successful for the "Milan" team not only because of the very important three points earned and an impressive revenge for the loss to "Fiorentina" away, but also because in the 75th minute the "Milan" captain Paolo Maldini made an appearance after missing three months due to injury. In the content-filled match, "Roma" managed to utilize their numerical advantage and achieved a draw against the championship leader "Juventus". In the 35th minute, Emerson's header found the target and the hosts took the lead. However, before halftime, "Juventus" were left with ten men as the team's "engine", Pavel Nedved, was sent off the field due to two yellow cards. Despite constant pressure from "Roma", the hosts managed to maintain their advantage for a long time in the second half. However, in the 85th minute, after a corner kick, Houssine Kharja headed in the equalizing goal and "Roma" won a very needed point in the fight for a place in next year's Champions League. Meanwhile, "Juventus' lead over "Milan" in second place was reduced to 8 points. In the third Saturday match, "Inter" team suffered a defeat away to the mid-table "Parma", damaging not only their position in the league table but also their morale ahead of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final match against the Spanish club "Villarreal". The only goal of the match, taking advantage of a mistake by the visitors' defender Pierre Wome, was scored by Brazilian midfielder Fabio Simplicio. "Parma" played better and came close to scoring a second goal several times. Two long-range attempts by Australian midfielder Mark Bresciano were among the most dangerous, but "Inter" goalkeeper Francesco Toldo managed to keep them out. At the end of the match, home goalkeeper Luca Bucci had to save his team when he blocked Esteban Cambiasso's header. Statistics 3 - 1 13` [0 - 1] Luca Toni 20` [1 - 1] Andriy Shevchenko 48` [1 - 2] Kaka 60` [1 - 3] Gennaro Gattuso Turino 1 - 1 35` [1 - 0] Emerson 85` [1 - 1] Houssine Kharja Pavel Nedved was sent off the field in the 45th minute ("Juventus") 1 - 0 Milano 39` [1 - 0] Fabio Henrique Simplicio
