SERIE A ROUND 31
 
RONALDOOOOOOOOO!

14 APRIL 2002

ATALANTA			1-1			TORINO
Berretta 15						Franco 50

Saudati chipped a ball up to Foglio, who looked miles offside, he centred
and Berretta tapped in. Comotto missed Vergassola's excellent cross,
Franco didn't, 1-1.

Attendance : 13,000
Assists : Foglio, Vergassola


BOLOGNA			1-2			PIACENZA
Fresi 62							Tosto 3
							Di Francesco 50

Hubner managed to get himself booked inside the first three minute. Tosto
tackled Nervo and then went in two footed on Falcone as he tried to clear,
he got up, turned and curled a shot into the top corner. Brilliant goal but I'm
most refs would have whistled for a foul. Guardalben made a fantastic point
blank save from Zauli then went walkabout on a cross. Zauli hit the ball against
Cruz and on the follow-up Cardone handled off the line. The ref missed another
blatant handball by Sacchetti. Di Francesco brilliantly pulled down Siamese's
pass, turned and screwed the ball into the bottom corner. Another goal-line
clearance, this time a legal one, kept out Signori's free kick. Fresi bundled
the ball past Guardalben after Pecchia headed against a post. Guardalben
made another great  save and Cruz shot wide.

Absolute daylight robbery.

Attendance : 20,000
Assist : Sommese
Red Card : Lamacchi 91 (Piacenza)


FIORENTINA			0-1			LAZIO
							Castroman 24

Soon to be Lazio rejects Lopez and Mendieta went close in the opening minutes.
Castroman struck the inside of a post with a shot across goal then scored with
a total fluke, his cross missed it's intended target, Claudio Lopez, and dropped
into the net. Peruzzi denied former Juve team-mate Di Livio with an excellent
save and made an even better one seconds later from Ganz on the follow-up.
Lopez and Mendieta continued to waste chances in the second half.

Unless Checchi Gori leave Fiorentina I don't expect them to make an immediate
return to Serie A.

Attendance : 7,000
Assist : Pancaro


INTER				2-1			BRESCIA
Ronaldo 79, 84						Guardiola 29 (Pen)

Bonera ran into the box, Materazzi foolishly stuck out a leg and Bonera went
over. Toldo committed himself early by moving to the left as Guardiola took a
run up and sent the ball into the opposite corner. Toni headed straight at Toldo
when unmarked in the box. Toldo parried a long range drive from one of the
Filippini brothers and Brescia also had penalty appeals turned down when Bonera
ran into Cordoba. Not really a penalty but Collina would have given it!
Fortunately for Inter Rosetti is THE best referee in Serie A. And just as things
couldn't get any worse Vieri picked up an injury. Calori saved Inter's season with
a hospital pass straight to Ronaldo. Ronaldo rounded Castelazzi and scored at
the second attempt after he shot against the post. Emre carried the ball from
the half way line and dribbled past four players before being crudely taken out
by a body check but he managed to get his pass away and Ronaldo's first time
shot took a wicked deflection off Calori past Castelazzi.

Attendance : 69,200
Assist : Bonera (pen)


JUVENTUS			1-0			MILAN
Chamot 79 (og)

Buffon again showed why he should NOT be Italy's first choice 'keeper at the
World Cup. As Kaladze crossed into the box he came out for the ball and
parried when he could have saved but managed to recover to deny Pirlo on
the follow-up. Chamot kept Juve's title hopes alive with a ridiculous own goal,
a back heel volley from a Del Piero free kick. Abbiati made a brilliant save from
another Del Piero free kick and incredibly Trezeguet missed an open goal on
the rebound. Seconds later Inzaghi latched onto a poor header from Thuram
but shot weakly at Buffon. As Milan pushed forward Juve caught them on the
counter attack and would have scored a second but for another poor finish by
Trezeguet.

Attendance : 50,000


LECCE				2-3			CHIEVO
Chevanton 27, 40						Legrottaglie 17
							Perrotta 70
							Eriberto 79

Legrottaglie headed in Barone's free kick. Vucinec found Giacomazzi with an
excellent pass out wide right, Giacomazzi chipped the ball over Lupatelli and
Chevanton headed in the equaliser. Chievo wasted four great chances to go
back in front and their notorious defence gifted Lecce the lead. Chevanton was
left with another tap-in following a failed offside trap.

Lupatelli was lucky not to be sent off for taking out Vucinec as he bore down
on goal. Chievo blew two more great chances before finally getting a deserved
equaliser. Cossato controlled a pass, turned and rolled the ball across the box
and Perrotta lashed past Chimenti. Eriberto won the match with a super 50yd
solo effort.

Great match.

Attendance : 10,800
Assists : Barone (free kick), Giacomazzi, Cossato, ?


ROMA				3-1			PARMA
Delvecchio 7						Lamouchi 42
Cassano 40
Samuel 46

Delvecchio scored at the second attempt after Frey saved his initial shot.
Batistuta was stretchered off after taking a kick full in the face from Cannavaro
as he tried to clear a long ball. Frey made a string of great saves before Cassano
added a second. Lamouchi gave Parma brief hope with a deflected shot. Samuel
made sure of the points with a header early in the second half. Cassano missed
an open goal. Frey made another stunning save from Montella's deflected shot.

Attendance : 62,000
Assist : Cassano (corner)


VENEZIA				0-2			PERUGIA
							Baiocco 37
							Bazzani 39


Baiocco bounced a loose ball off his chest before smacking a right foot volley
into the net. Bazzani's added a second with a superb flick header from Baiocco's
cross.

Attendance : 6,300
Assist : Baiocco


VERONA				1-0			UDINESE
Frick 32

A slack clearance by Caballero gave Verona a desperately need three points
in this relegation battle. Caballero attempted an overhead kick in his own
penalty box, he sliced the ball to Mutu, he centred and everyone's favourite
Liechtenstein international Super Mario Frick, tapped in. Pieri was sent off
for a second bookable offence. Zanchi and Muzzi were sent off before coming
to blows after both players went in for a 5-50 ball. Italiano curled a shot
against the crossbar. Udinese's trainer was sent off for protesting over a
non penalty call.

Attendance : 17,200
Assist : Mutu
Red Cards : Pieri 55 (Udinese), Zanchi 68 (Verona),  Muzzi 68 (Udinese)

R Mehdi