MONTELLA ANNIHILATES LAZIO

Roma bench warmer Vicenzo Montella hits four goals as Roma crush
neighbours Lazio. A sensational last minute goal from Clarence Seedorf earns
Inter a point in 'The Derby of Italy' against Juventus. Bologna win a six pointer
against Milan to their push for the final Champions League place.


10 MARCH 2002

LAZIO				1-5			ROMA
Stankovic 53						Montella 12, 29,
							36, 63
							Totti 71

Totti, wide right of midfield, back heeled a ball through the legs of Fiore and
Stankovic to Candela, he  sent a cross into the box with the outside of his right
foot, Montella got in front of Nesta and headed Roma into the lead. Totti picked
up the ball on the half way line, dribbled past the Lazio defence and took a shot
at goal, Peruzzi parried and Montella punished hesitancy Nesta's hesitancy to
score his second. He completed his hat-trick with a superb header from a Totti
free kick, again beating his marker Nesta to the ball.

Stankovic gave Lazio a glimmer of hope with a brilliant 30yd strike. Ten minutes
later Montella crashed the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the box.
Fittingly Totti put the seal on an incredible victory with another quality goal.
Montella knocked the ball into Totti before continuing his run into the box, Totti
looked up then sent the ball sailing over Peruzzi into the net.

Apparently Alex Ferguson was in the stands watching Nesta, he wouldn't have
been impressed. He'll leave Rome dreaming of pairing Montella alongside
Van Nistelrooy. I doubt you'll see another game this season with so many
outstanding goals.

Attendance : 75,000
Assists : Candela, Totti (fk), Mihajlovic, Totti, Montella


ATALANTA			2-1			LECCE
Rossini 24						Cirillo 56
Pinardi 30

A superb header by Rossini gave Atalanta the lead, Foglio's cross was out of
this world. Chimenti parried Pinardi's powerful first time strike up into the air but
he lost the flight of the ball and it dropped into the net and to add injury to insult
as Chimenti went for the ball he slammed his bollocks against the post! The
second half failed to match the first for comedic brilliance but there was another
goal. Tonetto lobbed a ball into the box, Stovini controlled it on his chest but
before he got a chance to shoot Falsini cleared unfortunately straight to Bruno
and he lashed the ball into the net.

Attendance : 13,000
Assist : Foglio


BOLOGNA			2-0			MILAN
Fresi 3
Cruz 24

Signori's violent free kick cannoned back off a post and Fresi headed in the
rebound. Signori sent Cruz away with the Milan defence appealing in vain for
offside, he rounded Abbiati and tapped in to an empty net. Umit had Milan's
best chance but Pagliuca saved.

Milan's defending from set pieces was abysmal. 

Attendance : 35,000
Assist : Signori


FIORENTINA			0-0			UDINESE

Udinese should have come away with three points. On the counter attack
Di Michele saw his shot bounce off a post and roll out of play. A truly exquisite
pass from Novmente ripped open a packed Fiorentina defence but Manninger
saved from Marcos Paulo. Manninger parried a powerful strike from Muzzi and
managed to claim the ball before Udinese got a chance on the rebound.

Another fantastic performance by Manninger.

Attendance : 19,000


PIACENZA			2-0			PERUGIA
Di Francesco 31
Hubner 85

Cordoba made two great early saves then punched out a long ball which lead to
the opener. The ball was sent back into the box, Di Francesco helped it on to the
Hubner but before he could score Di Francesco tapped into the corner. Caccia
picked out Hubner with a superb long ball, he dummied Cordoba, went round
Milanese and tapped into an empty net.

Attendance : 7,000
Assists : Hubner, Caccia


TORINO				2-2			CHIEVO
Ferrante 35						Corradi 20, 53
Maspero 60

Bucci came out to claim a cross but Fattori decided to pass the ball back to him,
a superb tackle by Galante denied Moro a certain goal then Fattori outdid
himself with an even more stupid mistake, he smacked the ball straight at
Corradi, 0-1. Manfredini body checked Comotto then turned and smacked him
in the face, red card. Ferrante equalised from another superb Cauet pass. It
wouldn't be a bad idea to let someone else do the running and let Cauet create
chances.

Corradi, or to be more precise, Delli Carri, put Chievo back in front. The defender
made a suicidal header back to Bucci and Corradi stole in to poke the ball under
Bucci. Torino were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. With everyone
expecting a Ferrante special Maspero knocked the ball in off the post. 

Attendance : 20,000
Assists : Cauet, Vergassola (fk)
Red Card : Manfredini 24 (Chievo)


VENEZIA				1-2			BRESCIA
Magallanes 41						Giunti 55 (Pen)
							Salgado 58

Venezia scored after a quick counter attack. Maniero laid off the ball to
Magallanes and he shot into the corner. Giunti stroked home a penalty awarded
for a foul on Salgado. Andersson, who was one of the hottest properties in
Serie A a few years ago, made a half arsed attempt to clear the ball and Salgado
cracked a right foot volley into the corner.

Attendance : 7,500
Assists : Maniero, Salgado (pen)


VERONA				1-0			PARMA
Mutu 83 (Pen)

Parma were gifted a penalty for a mindless handball by Cannavaro as Di Vaio
tried to flick the ball around him. Di Vaio smashed the ball into the corner but
Ferron made a phenomenal save. Not a bad penalty at all just a great save.
Gurenko kicked Salvetti as he ran into the box, penalty. Mutu slammed the ball
to Taffarel's left. No penalty heroics from the Brazilian this time.

Attendance : 15,600
Assist : Salvetti (pen)


9 MARCH 2002

INTER				2-2			JUVENTUS
Seedorf 6, 91						Trezeguet 13
							Tudor 81

Juve blew three chances to clear Conceicao's hopeful cross and were duly
punished when Seedorf cracked a left foot half volley into the top corner. More
horrendous defending went unpunished after Davids tried to clear unfortunately
it was Cordoba and not Vieri on got on the end of the ball. Juve then went down
the other end and equalised. Trezeguet with a typically World Class finish, a
precise flick header from Zambrotta's cross. Thuram almost scored an own goal
when trying to clear Recoba's cross, the ball bounced off the inside of a post,
through Zambrotta's hands to Buffon. Manic penalty appeals were rightfully
turned down. Tudor stole a yard on Materazzi to head in Nedved's free kick.
Seedorf latched onto a loose ball by taking out a defender with a clever dummy
then sent an awesome right foot shot from 30yds into the top corner

Thuram played like Frank Leboeuf. Zambrotta was Juve's best player.

Attendance : 79,188 for £1.05 million
Assists : Zambrotta, Nedved (fk)

R Mehdi