Rome, Sept 29: Marco di Vaio scored an early goal and Pavel Nedved added another in the second half to lift holders Juventus atop the Serie A after beating Reggina 2-0.
Di Vaio netted his fourth goal of the season - his third in the last two matches - by taking advantage of a defensive mishap from the southern Italian team in the 13th minute.
Di Vaio, who started in place of injured French striker David Trezeguet, scored with a precise lob from a few meters as goalkeeper Emanuele Belardi and defender Andrea Sottil collided and lost the ball as both tried to stop a low cross.
Nedved made it 2-0 in the 50th with a left-footed drive, following a fast counter attack. It was the first goal of the season - the 47th in the serie a - for the Czech midfielder.
Between Juventus goals, Japanese star Shunsuke Nakamura went close to scoring in the 40th, but his diagonal shot was deflected by goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and hit the post.



Buffon also saved two late attempts from second-half substitute Julio Cesar Leon.



The home team ended the match one player down as Sottil was ejected in the 85th after getting his second yellow card.



La Juve, which has piled up 10 points in four matches, was without key players Trezeguet, injured playmaker-striker Alessandro del Piero and defenders Lilian Thuram and Nicola Legrottaglie.



The two defenders were rested by coach Marcello Lippi ahead of Tuesday's Champions League match against Olympiakos.



In the only other match of the day, Inter Milan was at Udinese hoping of a win to equal Juventus in first place.



Other title contenders AC Milan and AS Roma played host to lowly Lecce and Ancona, respectively, in yesterday's fourth round action.


Bureau Report