Simone scores twice for Milan

MARCO SIMONE scored twice and Liberian George Weah added a memorable third as AC Milan came from behind to defeat Verona 4-1 in an ominously impressive start to their league title, defence yesterday.

But highly fancied Fiorentina, Italian Cup and Supercup holders, suffered a shock 4-2 home defeat by Vicenza, for whom Marcelo Otero scored all four goals. Fiorentina's bleak day was further darkened by the second half dismissal of defender Daniele Carnasciale.

Antonio De Vitis's 25th minute header for newly promoted Verona threatened to sour coach Oscar Washington Tabarez's league debut on the Milan bench at the San Siro stadium. But Marco Simone spared the Uruguayan coach's blushes with an equaliser in the 49th minute and a well taken second goal in the 65th.

Then, in the 86th minute, Weah, the inspiration of Milan's title triumph last season, dribbled over 100 metres from deep in his own penalty area before beating Attilio Gregori with a powerful drive.

Roberto Baggio added an excellent injury time fourth to complete Verona's second half surrender.

European Cup holders Juventus warmed up for Wednesday's match against Manchester United in the Champions' League stage of the competition with a disappointing 1-1 draw at Reggiana.

The Turin side were left to rue the close season departure of strikers Gianluca Vialli and Fabrizio Ravanelli to England's Premiership as their replacements, Christian Vieri and Croat Alen Boksic, squandered a series of second half chances.

Expected to challenge for this year's title, Fiorentina were two down in the opening half hour of their loss to Vicenza, the goals coming from the head and boot of Otero.

But an own goal from Luigi Sartor on the brink of half time left Florentine fans eagerly awaiting a secondhalf comeback.

Otero, however, had other ideas, completing his hat trick with a 67th minute opportunist's goal. Summer signing Luis Oliveira of Belgium briefly revived Fiorentina's chances with a solo effort only for the deadly Otero to add a 90th minute fourth from the penalty spot.

At Reggiana, Vieri and Boksic combined neatly for Juve's sixth minute opener ex Atalanta striker Vieri glancing home the Croat's cross. But Reggiana drew level three minutes later when summer signing Sandro Tovalieri punished a mix up in the Juve defence.

Despite laying siege to the Reggiana penalty area for the rest of the match, Vieri and Boksic both hit the bar when scoring looked easier. The Croat in particular missed a gilt edged opportunity in the 84th minute when he drove wide with only the keeper to beat.

Perugia marked their return to the top flight with a 1-0 win over Sampdoria courtesy of Marco Negri's 23th minute strike; the visitors had Yugoslav Sinisa Mihajlovic dismissed for protest.

Despite competition from some of the best strikers in the world, unheralded Cagliari defender Giuseppe Pancaro scored the fastest goal of the new Italian season to win 2,000 bottles of wine. Pancaro's 25 metre freekick came after just two minutes of Cagliari's 2-0 home win over Atalanta.