Article
Peruzzi hangs up his gloves after Rome derby ends in stalemate
ROME (AFP) - Lazio's veteran keeper Angelo Peruzzi announced his retirement after Sunday's drab goalless draw against city rivals Roma.
Roma, who are virtually assured of second place in Serie A, enjoyed the lion's share of the possession but failed to turn their domination into goals.
Lazio were grateful to former Italy international Peruzzi for two outstanding saves in the closing stages that kept out shots from Brazilian winger Mancini and Mirko Vucinic.
A point from a damp squib of a derby left Roma on 69 points, 11 clear of fourth-placed Lazio who still have work to do in their final four games to secure a place in the third qualifying round of next season's Champions League.
Immediately after the match, Peruzzi revealed he was hanging up his gloves.
"That's enough - I had already made up my mind in January," said the 37-year-old who was reserve keeper for Italy in their triumphant World Cup campaign last year.
"I don't even think I will play another game this season. I've had three injections in my finger for a fracture, and I can't carry on."
Peruzzi won three Serie A titles and the 1996 Champions League while playing for Juventus, and also had spells at Roma, Verona and Inter Milan.
Inter, who clinched the Serie A title last weekend, won 3-1 at home to Empoli with goals from Julio Cruz, Alvaro Recoba and Dejan Stankovic securing victory at the San Siro.
Parma and Reggina boosted their hopes of surviving the drop with important wins against Cagliari and Ascoli respectively, but Messina remain deep in the mire after a 0-0 draw with Atalanta.
Palermo won 2-1 at Livorno to give new coach Renzo Gobbo a winning start, while Sampdoria improved their hopes of a UEFA Cup place next season by beating Siena 2-0. Catania edged Udinese 1-0 thanks to Gionatha Spinesi's 53rd-minute penalty.
On Saturday AC Milan won 1-0 at Torino where Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf scored the only goal.
With one eye on the return leg of their Champions League semi-final against Manchester United on Wednesday at the San Siro, AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti rested a number of his big name stars.
Brazilian star Kaka, who scored twice in the 3-2 first leg defeat to the English Premiership leaders last Tuesday, stayed on the bench for the entire match.
Milan's win on Saturday left them in third place on 59 points, seven clear of fifth-placed Palermo.
Milan were docked eight points this season for their involvement in last summer's match-fixing scandal.
The top two in Serie A go directly into the Champions League group stages, while the teams finishing third and fourth will join the competition in the third and final qualifying round.
In Saturday's other match, Fiorentina, stung by a 15-point deduction for their match-rigging crimes, beat Chievo 1-0.
Comments (0)