The Japan Times - Juve climb top as Milan blow two-goal lead

This was a fifth straight win for Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus who top Serie A on 29 points with their early season title rivals Inter Milan on 28 playing Frosinone on Sunday.

Juventus play Inter in Turin in late November in what should be an old school blockbuster between the traditional rivals.

Juve's powerfully built central defender Gleison Bremer was unmarked in the middle of the box when he headed home on the hour to break the deadlock.

Another defensive player Daniele Rugani tapped home in equally simple fashion from a corner on 70 minutes to make it 2-0.

Alberto Dossena pulled one back with a bullet header on 75 minutes to break a run of seven clean sheets for Juventus, who then managed to see out the tie.

Earlier, AC Milan let slip a two-goal lead at Lecce but sighed in collective relief as a last-gasp wonder goal for the hosts was disallowed in a 2-2 draw.

In a dramatic late incident Lecce forward Roberto Piccoli controlled a long-distance clearance from his 'keeper, turned and shot past Milan goalie Mike Maignan to send the home fans into raptures.

The goal was however disallowed because Piccoli had trodden on a rival's foot before turning to shoot.

Lecce president Saverio Sticchi Damiani did not hide his discontent with the late VAR decision.

"It allows them to ruin a fairy-tale and ruin this sport," he said.

Despite salvaging a point Milan lost the influential Rafael Leao to injury and had goalscorer Olivier Giroud sent off.

Giroud opened the scoring on 28 minutes before Tijjani Reijnders doubled the lead, just four days after Milan's crucial Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain.

Down in 14th place in Serie A, Lecce looked out of it but came out in the second half with great intent, pulling a goal back at a corner through Nicola Sansone on 66 minutes while Zambian Lameck Banda levelled not long after.

Milan coach Stefano Pioli lamented the fact that his players had failed to learn their lesson.

"We conceded a goal on a corner that was identical to the one scored by PSG, so we keep making the same very costly errors," he said.

"We got too stretched out, too frenetic and did not win a game that we should have won."

Milan had much to lament, despite the let-off, with Giroud's dissent likely to rule him out for more than two games and the extension of the club's winless run in Serie A to four matches.

Currently third in the league, AC Milan are under threat Sunday from champions Napoli who have the chance to leapfrog them.

K.Okada--JT