Nakata inspires Bologna
ByReuters
Published 07/02/2004 at 22:02 GMT
Japanese midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata led Bologna to an impressive 3-1 win at Udinese in Serie A on Saturday while relegation threatened Lecce also enjoyed an away win with a 3-2 victory against Chievo.
Eurosport
Image credit: Eurosport
Bologna have been transformed since Nakata joined them on loan from Parma last month and the Japan international showed his value to Carlo Mazzone's side again with a fine all-round display.
Tomas Locatelli put Bologna ahead in the 22nd minute with a superb individual goal, beating two Udinese defenders before firing home.
Udinese's Czech midfielder Marek Jankulovski brought the home side level on the stroke of halftime with a powerful left-foot strike from the edge of the area.
Bologna wasted no time in restoring their lead though with Nakata's low free kick from 25 metres bouncing under the body of unsighted Udinese keeper Morgan De Sanctis in the second minute after the interval.
Udinese should have been back on level terms in the 57th minute when Vincenzo Iaquinta's volley was ruled offside although television replays showed the linesman was mistaken.
Nakata then created the third goal for Bologna, bursting down the right and picking out team mate Leonardo Coluccu who confidently drove home.
In Verona, Uruguayan striker Ernesto Chevanton inspired relegation-threatened Lecce to an impressive win against Chievo.
Chevanton's powerfully struck free kick in the 17th minute was fumbled by Chievo keeper Luca Marchegiani and in the scramble that followed defender Andrea Barzagli put through his own goal.
Four minutes later Chevanton made it 2-0 for the visitors with a thundering free kick which flew in off the post.
Chievo reduced the deficit just before the break with a strike from Brazilian winger Luciano but a 57th-minute Marco Cassetti header restored Lecce's two-goal cushion.
A Lorenzo D'Anna penalty in the 88th minute gave Chievo a chance of a late rally but Lecce held on for their third away win of the season.
Lecce join 14th-placed Modena level on points in the 18-team league.
In Sunday's top match second-placed AS Roma and third-placed Juventus meet at the Olympic stadium. Leaders AC Milan host struggling Perugia.
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