Juventus beat Inter as Roma close gap

ROME, Italy -- Juventus blew the Serie A title race wide open with a shock 2-1 victory at leaders Inter Milan on Saturday night.

Trezeguet (left) celebrates with team-mates after scoring the second goal in Juve's shock 2-1 victory at Inter Milan.

The third-placed team produced a remarkable performance at the San Siro to allow Roma, who beat Empoli 2-1 at home earlier in the day, to close to within just four points of the champions.

Midfielder Mauro Camoranesi opened the scoring four minutes after the break from a suspiciously offside-looking position.

And just past the hour mark French forward David Trezeguet doubled the visitors' advantage to give Juve a lead they never looked like relinquishing.

Portugal midfielder Maniche gave Inter late hope with a consolation goal seven minutes from time and he also hit the post in the dying moments but it was not enough.

The defeat was only Inter's second in the league this season and their first at the San Siro since April last year.

Roma overcame the loss of Simone Perrotta to a red card early in the second half to keep their title chase alive. They were locked at 1-1 when Perrotta was dismissed but a goal from veteran defender Cristian Panucci sealed the three points.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti praised his side for their resilience when down to 10 men. "It was a great reaction on a heavy pitch with a numerical disadvantage," he said.

On loan Juventus teenager Sebastian Giovinco was a constant thorn in Roma's side. He should have put the visitors ahead on 13 minutes when he burst through into the area but he smashed his shot straight at Brazilian goalkeeper Doni, who deflected the ball over the bar.

On 33 minutes, he came even closer to giving Empoli the lead with a long range strike that had Doni rooted to the spot but which cannoned back off the post.

Two minutes later Empoli paid the price for their missed chances as Roma took the lead. Captain Francesco Totti set Max Tonetto running into the box with a clever back-heel and the left-back kept his cool to finish at the near post.

But five minutes after the break Giovinco finally got the goal his performance deserved as he latched onto a cross from Ignazio Abate to slot home.

Things got worse for Roma as Perrotta was shown a straight red card for tripping Felice Piccolo. However, on 63 minutes the 10 men took the lead as Panucci headed home a free-kick from David Pizarro.

AC Milan kept up their chase for fourth place and Champions League football next season as they won 1-0 at Torino with a goal from Brazilian teenager Pato.

The 66th minute strike owed much to the work of Italy international Alberto Gilardino, who moments earlier had seen a shot from seven meters blocked by Torino goalkeeper Alberto Fontana.

But Gilardino got through again and despite falling over, he was up quickly to turn Fontana and beat him with a trickling cross shot that Pato poked over the line from centimeters out.

Torino had a great chance to equalise in the last quarter of an hour but Milan's Australian goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac made a point blank save from Roberto Stellone.

Milan are still fifth, four points behind fourth-placed Fiorentina, who beat Lazio 1-0 in Florence.

Fiorentina came close to scoring when Giampaolo Pazzini headed a pass from Romania forward Adrian Mutu onto the bar midway through the second half.

But on 77 minutes Pazzini finally broke the deadlock as he turned onto a pass from Fabio Liverani and shot low past veteran goalkeeper Marco Ballotta at the near post. E-mail to a friend