Crespo hits hat-trick as Milan cut Juventus’ lead

AC Milan took advantage of a slip by Juventus to halve the deficit on the Serie A leaders to just two points yesterday.

While Juventus were denied a victory as lowly Parma snatched a 1-1 draw with a late equaliser, on-loan Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo was the Milan hero as he hit a hat-trick in the 5-2 San Siro rout of Lecce.

Crespo scored after 23, 36 and 57 minutes to put the match out of Lecce’s reach, with Andriy Shevchenko and Jon Dahl Tomasson also netting for Milan, who had Alessandro Nesta sent off in the 74th minute for a professional foul.

Juventus took the lead after 63 minutes through Zlatan Ibrahimovic but Marco Marchionni struck four minutes from time to hand cash-strapped Parma a crucial draw.

Elsewhere there were wins for Inter Milan, Sampdoria, Siena, Cagliari, Atalanta and Reggina, while Brescia drew 1-1 with Bologna.