SERIE A ROUND 14
 
FIORENTINA DESTROY MILAN

Rui Costa inspires Fiorentina to a 4-0 victory over Milan. A dodgy penalty
earns lacklustre Roma a draw at home to Bari. Lazio triumph in a seven goal
thriller against Udinese. Sacchi comes away with a point on his return to the
San Siro.


14 JANUARY 2001

INTER				1-1			PARMA
Vieri 69							Di Vaio 31

Brocchi picked out Vieri with an excellent cross but 'Bobo' somehow managed
to run past the ball. Di Vaio, starting his first match in months, headed
Parma into the lead. Vieri and Di Vaio went close at the end of the first
half.

Vieri volleyed Sukur's cross high over the bar. Di Vaio pulled a shot inches
wide of the post. Vieri finally got on the score sheet for only the third time
this season, turning sharply to volley Sukur's header past Buffon. He then
missed an easy header and Di Vaio once again shot wide. 

Attendance : 49,244
Assists : Conceicao, Sukur


JUVENTUS			1-0			BOLOGNA
Trezeguet 13

Trezeguet powerfully headed Zidane's superb cross past Pagliuca. Zidane
continued to torment the Bologna defence, Inzaghi headed his cross onto the
bar and Zambrotta's header, from Zidane's cross, was cleared off the line.
Zidane split the Bologna defence with a beautiful pass but Trezeguet blasted
the ball against the crossbar. Bologna were awarded a penalty for 'handball'.
From the penalty spot Cruz launched the ball into outer space, apparently
it's set to land on the same satellite as the Jap Stam's Euro 2000 penalty
sometime in the summer.

With the possible exception of Jardel, Trezeguet is the best header of the
ball in the World. Zidane was awesome.

Assist : Zidane
 

LECCE				3-1			VICENZA
Vugrinec 34, 37 (Pen)					Comotto 79
Osorio 74

Chimenti saved brilliantly from Bernardini's volley. Firmani was booked for
charging down Vugrinec's free kick. Vugrinec tried again, this time the
wall stood still and the ball flew past Sterchele. Tomas was sent off for
going through Vugrinec in the box. He converted the penalty himself.

Chimenti made two World Class saves either side of half time, his save from
Bernardini was particularly impressive. Toni blew a great chance from a free
kick and Lecce went down the other end to kill off Vicenza, Tonetto did a
number on Comotto and Osorio met his cross. Chimenti was finally beaten by
Comotto's superb volley from the edge of the area. Chimenti almost did a
Gary Walsh, kicking the ball against Toni but it rolled wide of the post.

Assists : Vugrinec, Tonetto
Red Card : Tomas (Vicenza)


REGGINA			1-0			ATALANTA
Dionigi 3

Dionigi scored with a fabulous header from Cozza's cross. His third goal in
two games following his return to Reggina from Sampdoria. Atalanta had a
goal disallowed for offside and Taibi denied Ganz with a save reminiscent of
Banks V Pele, it was that good. Atalanta failed to trouble Taibi again.

Reggina's second straight win gives them a chance of getting out of the
relegation zone. Atalanta's free fall continues.

Assist : Cozza


ROMA				1-1			BARI
Totti 75 (Pen)						Mazzarelli 68

A poor match, not because of Bari's defensive tactics but because of Roma's
lack of invention. Gillet made a great double save from Totti and
Delvecchio's follow up. Lupatelli bravely saved from the feet of Del Grosso.
Bellavista made a mess of Cassano's excellent through pass. Mazzarelli caught
the Roma defence cold with a stunning free kick which the commentators
seemed to think was Lupatelli's fault. Delvecchio should have drew Roma
level but headed over. Totti threw himself off Markic's legs in the box and the
ref bought it. Totti converted. Zago and Delvecchio wasted great chances.
Cassano once again split the Roma defence with a great pass but
Osmanovski's horrid first touch took him wide and his tame shot was cleared.

I still think Cassano is the most overrated player in Round A.

Assists : Enyinnaya, Totti
Red Card : Bellavista 90 (Bari)


UDINESE			3-4			LAZIO
Fiore 49							Zamboni 4 (og)
Margiotta 66						Crespo 36 (Pen),
Sosa 85							53
							Salas 47

As Lazio were preparing to take a corner Turci gave Zamboni a pat on the
back. He duly obliged with an own goal that Pancaro would have been proud
of, a spectacular volley. Lazio were awarded a penalty when Bertotto handled
in the box. He threw the ball into the stands and earned himself a red card.
Crespo drilled his penalty straight down the middle. 

Lazio seemingly killed off Udinese at the start of the second half when Salas
poked in Poborsky's cross. Fiore's free kick gave Udinese a glimmer of hope.
Crespo volleyed in Pancaro's cross at the near post. Margiotta pulled another
goal back when a failed offside trap left him alone with Marchegiani. Sosa
converted Fiore's cross but Lazio held on.

Assists : Poborsky, Pancaro, Zamboni, Fiore
Red Card : Bertotto 35 (Udinese) 


VERONA				2-1			NAPOLI
Mutu 84							Belucci 77
Adailton 89

Mancini made a brilliant save from Melis's header. Oddo was struck with a
firework thrown by the degenerate Napoli supporters but wasn't hurt, if he
was he didn't show it. Verona should have been awarded a penalty when
Troise? tried to make an adjustment to Bonazzoli's shirt, by removing the
sleeve. Napoli took the lead in the second half against the run of play when
Belucci beat Ferron with an amazing shot from 30yds. Italiano's cross struck
Cassetti and Mutu reacted sharply to draw Verona level. Italiano and Bonazzoli
combined for the winner. Colucci was sent off for taking off his shirt. Mutu
and Matuzalem walked for a girly slap fight.

There was fighting after the match and it seemed as though Verona were the
instigators.

Assists : Matuzalem, Cassetti
Red Cards : Colucci 90 (Verona), Mutu 92 (Verona). Matuzalem 92 (Napoli)


13 JANUARY 2001

BRESCIA				1-0			PERUGIA
Yllana 20

Yllana gave Brescia their second win of the season, with a fine strike on the
turn from a short corner. Hubner rounded Mazzantini (no mean feat) but shot
wide. Turkylmaz cracked a shot against the post and Correa also missed a
great chance late on. Fortunately for the home side Perugia didn't put up a
fight.

Attendance : 10,000
Assist : 
Red Card : Baiocco 37 (Perugia), Liverani 40 (Perugia)


FIORENTINA			4-0			MILAN
Nuno Gomes 14
Cois 47
Chiesa 71
Rui Costa 86

Nuno Gomes rose unchallenged to powerfully head past Abbiati. Bierhoff
flashed a shot wide of the post after brilliantly controlling Giunti's cross.
He then made a contender for miss of the season. Toldo punched out Giunti's
free kick and the ball landed at Bierhoff's feet, with Toldo tangled in the
netting and Bierhoff standing a foot away from the goal line he managed to
shoot wide.

Torricelli floated a cross into the box, Cois charged the ball down on his
chest and smashed a volley into the top corner, fantastic goal. Abbiati made
a desperate challenge outside his area while his team-mates watched from the
half way line. Chiesa put Fiorentina 3-0 up with a crisp first time strike
from Rui Costa's centre. Rui Costa ran from the halfway line, Costacurta and
Maldini ran away, allowing him to pick his spot.

Terim and Rui Costa are tipped to be at Milan next season. First they could
do with a new back four.

Attendance : 32,000
Assists : Rui Costa (x2), Torricelli, Nuno Gomes