Montella hat-trick not enough for Roma
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-09-20 11:03

AS Roma suffered a surprise 4-3 defeat at promoted Messina despite a hat-trick from striker Vincenzo Montella in Serie A on Sunday.

 Thanks to Montella Roma led 3-2 before goals from Domenico Giampa' and Riccardo Zampagna gave the Sicilians, playing their first top-flight home game for 39 years, a memorable victory.

 Champions AC Milan left it late at Bologna with an 84th minute penalty from Andriy Shevchenko and an injury-time strike from Brazilian Kaka securing a 2-0 win.

 Two goals from David Trezeguet led Juventus to a comfortable 2-0 victory at home to Atalanta while Lazio were held to a 1-1 draw against visiting Reggina.

 On Saturday, Inter Milan could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Palermo.

 After two games Juventus are the only team in Serie A to have a maximum six points.

 It was a day to celebrate in Messina and the Sicilian team rose to the occasion with a spirited performance against one of the likely title contenders.

 Alessandro Parisi put Messina ahead in the 20th minute from the penalty spot after referee Pierluigi Collina harshly judged that Roma's French defender Phillipe Mexes had fouled Zampagna.

 Montella equalised 10 minutes before the break, reacting swiftly to pounce on a header down from Mancini.

 Messina restored their lead shortly after the interval through Salvatore Sulla who slotted home after Zampagna had acrobatically volleyed against the post.

 A superb low drive from the edge of the area by Montella made it 2-2 after 64 minutes and he struck again from close range four minutes later to put Rudi Voeller's side ahead.

 The home side were in no mood to give up, however, and after a free kick ricocheted off the wall, Domenico Giampa' pounced to fire past Ivan Pelizzoli and level the scores. The comeback was crowned in the 78th minute by a superb chip from Zampagna.

 IMPRESSIVE START

 Juventus followed their 3-0 win at Brescia on the opening day of the season and a 1-0 midweek victory at Ajax Amsterdam in the Champions League by continuing their impressive start with another confident display at the Delle Alpi stadium.

 Trezeguet turned in a low ball from Gianluca Zambrotta to give Juve the lead in the 14th minute and made sure of the three points with a cool finish in the 58th after being set up by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

 Carlo Ancelotti's Milan found it hard going at Bologna whose goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca was in inspired form.

 Milan finally broke through in the 84th minute when Bologna defender Leonardo Colucci's lunging challenge on Kaka led to the penalty, which Ukrainian Shevchenko slotted home.

 In injury time Filippo Inzaghi won possession on the right and his deflected low cross was whipped home by Kaka.

 Lazio took the lead against Reggina through a highly debatable penalty after Simone Inzaghi went down inside the area and converted the resulting spot kick.

 Minutes later, though, Emiliano Bonazzoli responded with a stunning volley to give the Calabrians a deserved point.

 Udinese were hosting Parma later on Sunday while Serie A returns to action with a full round of games on Wednesday. 

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