Inter Back On Top

Inter join neighbours Milan on top of Serie A with victory over Parma,
despite the loss of all their first team strikers due to injury. Milan
and Lazio are held to draws at home to Brescia and Bologna respectively.
Camoranesi scores an outrageous late winner to keep Juve in touch.
Chievo join the Turin giants on 29 points with a comfortable victory
over doomed Como.

22 December 2002

PARMA				1-2		INTER
Zanetti 56 (og)					Di Biagio 37
						Recoba 76 (Pen)

Fabio Cannavaro headed a Recoba free kick across goal Frey made a superb
save from Di Biagio's diving header but the midfielder was first to react
and stopped the ball on his chest, stood up and tapped into the net. Frey
made a fantastic save early in the second half to deny Recoba following
good work by sixth choice striker Martins. Parma equalised shortly
thereafter when Zanetti sliced Mutu's free kick past Toldo. Benarrivo
pissed away the points when he floored Emre with a two footed lunge in
the box. Recoba stepped up, took a slow run up and hit THE most violent
penalty you are ever likely to see. Marchionni wasted a chance to equalise
late in the match.

I have said it before and I'll say it again Benarrivo has no business playing
in Serie A.

Assists : Emre (won pen)


ATALANTA			2-2		EMPOLI
Doni 13						Grieco 85
D Zenoni 33					Tavano 88

Two all mighty clangers from Empoli 'keeper Berti handed Atalanta a solid
lead. On both occasions his weak punches fell to Atalanta players and were
returned with interest. Dabo with a tap in and Zenoni with an explosive half
volley. A sensational goal got Empoli back in the match. Rocchi found Tavano
with a gorgeous disguised pass, Tavano volleyed against the crossbar and
Grieco slammed in the rebound with a Van Basten-esque scissor kick. Three
minutes later Empoli were level. Rocchi pulled down a Cupi longball, turned
and fired the ball across the face of goal and Tavano shot first time past Taibi.

Attendance : 13,000
Assist : Rocchi


CHIEVO				2-0		COMO
Legrottaglie 65
Pellisier 73

Legrottaglie headed in a Corini free kick and substitute Pellisier headed
in Lanna's cross. Corini almost added a third from a free kick.

Attendance : 11,500
Assists : Corini (fk), Lanna


LAZIO				1-1		BOLOGNA
Lopez 47					Zaccardo 65

An excellent, evenly contested match. Peruzzi made a wonderful save to
deny Colucci from a diving header. Lazio broke quickly after Stankovic won
a ball in midfield, he passed to Fiore who rounded Pagliuca and seemed
certain to score but Vanoli made a superb goal-line clearance. Corradi headed
on Pagliuca's goal-kick, Castellini's clearance fell to Stankovic, he passed to
Lopez who dummied Pagliuca before slotting into the corner. No Ketchup
dance but this time a four man rowing routine. Bologna equalised mid-way
through the second half when Zaccardo got hold of a half arsed clearance from
Favalli and sent a vicious shot flying past Peruzzi. 


Attendance : 45,000
Assist : Stankovic
Red Card : Nervo 90 (Bologna)


MILAN				0-0		BRESCIA

Rui Costa back heeled a Seedorf pass to Kaladze, he fired the ball in the box
and both Shevchenko and Inzaghi missed with the goal at their mercy. Pirlo
curled a free kick against the outside of a post. An excellent save by Dida
denied Baggio when he stole in between Simic and Nesta. Shevchenko
wasted two great chances from crosses. I still think he's leaving next month.

Attendance : 60,000


PERUGIA				0-1		JUVENTUS
						Camoranesi 91

Perugia should have been awarded a penalty for handball by Birindelli.
Trezeguet blazed over from close range after Nedved and Del Piero tore
through Perugia on a counter attack. Vryzas headed against a post. Thuram
found international team-mate Trezeguet with a raking cross, Trezeguet
brilliantly pulled the ball down on his chest but fire hopelessly wide. Perugia
continued to threaten from set plays with Di Loreto heading against the
crossbar. Grosso cleared a Nedved header off the line. Kalac was left
stranded as Del Piero sent a great free kick smashing off a post. Del Piero
shot straight at a prone Kalac after the 'keeper collided with a Juve player
when challenging for a cross. Camoranesi, on for Davids, latched onto a
clearance and thundered the ball high into the net, incredible finish.

Cosmi was furious at the end of the match, first he hurled abuse at the ref (for
adding a minute of injury time!?!?!?) then he had a go at Nedved!

Attendance : 20,000


REGGINA			3-1		PIACENZA
Savoldi 49, 64					Boselli 13
Di Michele 77 (Pen)

Boselli vaulted off a Reggina defender to head in a corner. Cristante went to
sleep on a long ball allowing Savoldi to level early in the second half. Savoldi
put Reggina in front with an excellent close range volley and Di Michele
converted a penalty awarded for handball.

Assists : ? (ck), Vargas, Cozza


21 December 2002

TORINO				0-1		ROMA
						Samuel 46


Torino were awarded an early penalty when Samuel held down Lucarelli
as he tried to attack a cross. Pelizzoli saved Lucarelli's weak spot kick
and just to rub salt in the wounds it was Samuel who scored the only
goal, converting from close range after a deflection from a free kick left
him unmarked in front of goal. Ferrante curled a free kick against the
post, had a goal disallowed for offside and made an incredible miss late
on.


MODENA				0-1		UDINESE
						Pinzi 24

I missed the highlights but managed to catch the goal. Pinzi latched onto
a loose ball and cracked the ball into the net from the edge of the box.


R Mehdi