13 April 2003

BOLOGNA				2-2			JUVENTUS
Cruz 15								Paramatti 86 (og)
Locatelli 75							Camoranesi 94

Zaccardo tackled Del Piero as he tried to start a counter attack, he skipped a challenge and fed
Cruz, a brilliant first touch took the big striker away from Davids and his second sent the
ball into the net. A fantastic goal-line clearance by Vanoli denied Del Piero a certain goal.
Bologna survived wave after wave of Juve pressure. Zambrotta somehow managed to head
over the bar when Pagliuca's fumbling presented him with a gift. Nedved caught Paramatti
dithering in defence and gave Del Piero a pass, having ran wide of Pagliuca he shot against the
post. Signori forced Buffon into making a fantastic save from a free kick shortly before
being substituted for Locatelli. Locatelli made an immediate impact first setting up Cruz
with a neat one two then scoring what at the time seemed like the winner with a phenomenal
first time lob from wide on goal. Frara should have scored a third but shot wide. At the
other end Pagliuca denied Di Vaio with a stunning one handed save, from the resulting
clearance however Paramatti tried to clear Zambrotta's speculative shot but ended up
sending the ball into his own net. Having scored from an identical chance earlier in the
week against Barca, Montero shot wide. Bologna then survived penalty appeals when
Zambrotta threw himself over a wild sliding tackle. Full credit to Paparesta for not
giving the penalty. Meghni blew a glorious chance on the break when clean through on
goal - he hesitated and shot horribly wide. A shocking mistake by Zaccardo gave Juve a
share of the points and one hand on their trophy. He attempted to pass wide but
Zambrotta closed him down, sent the ball towards the back post and that scumbag
Argentinean Camoranesi, on as a substitute, headed Juve level and seconds later
the ref blew for full time.

The most remarkable match I have seen in many, many years. Not the best of course for the
obvious reasons.

Attendance : 37,000
Assists : Zaccardo, Amoroso, Zambrotta


ATALANTA				1-1			REGGINA
Doni 9								Bonazzoli 52

Rossini headed Tramezzani's free kick was headed against a post, Vugrinec made a hash of the
rebound but Doni reacted quickly, leapt in the air and scored with a spectacular scissor kick.
Vugrinec, Rossini and Dabo missed great chances to kill off Reggina. They equalised when
Bonazzoli headed in Falsini's deep cross.

Attendance : 18,000
Assist : Vugrinec, Falsini


EMPOLI					2-1			CHIEVO
Busce 23							Bjelanovic 7
Lucchini 60

Empoli rebounded from a hugely controversial goal to move further away from the relegation
zone. Berti came up for a cross, he caught the ball and Bjelanovic knocked him over sending
the ball into the net. Cribari headed on a Vanucchi free kick and Busce volleyed Empoli level.
Empoli turned on the pressure and given the way Chievo were defending today it was no surprise
when Lucchini scored the winner on the hour mark.

Attendance : 5,808
Assist : Cribari


MODENA					0-0			LAZIO

Kamara wasted the best chance of the match when he shot wide after Cercarelli
whipped a cross into the box. Lazio came to life in the second half with Corradi and
Inzaghi missing easy headers. Lazio should also have been awarded a penalty for handball.

Attendance : 13,800


ROMA					2-1			PARMA
Totti 46								Adriano 40
Guigou 73

A wide open game. Cassano wasted a one-on-one against Frey shortly before Adriano gave
Parma the lead with a ferocious free kick. As Parma stood waiting for a free kick Emerson
robbed a defender of possession before squaring to Totti who calmly took his time before
beating Frey. Lamouchi wasted a great chance early in the second half, shooting straight at
Pelizzoli after Adriano rolled on a pass. Pelizzoli made two excellent saves from Adriano
and Mutu before their defence, once again, let them down. Three players ball watched
as Tommasi played a one-two with Totti and fired a low cross into the ball, Guigou arrived
at the back post, 2-1.

Attendance : 55,000
Assists : Mutu, Emerson, Tomassi


TORINO					1-3			PIACENZA
Conticchio 58							Maresca 60
								Di Francesco 83
								Ferrarese 91

This was another of Toro's matches played away due to the crowd trouble in the match against
Milan some weeks ago. Shocking attendance, I've seen more people queue for the ice
cream van. Conticchio headed Torino into the lead but Piacenza were level two minutes later
when Maresca scored with a ridiculous free kick. Di Francesco put Piacenza in front when
stand-in 'keeper Sorrentino deflected a header against the post. Ferrarese added a third in
injury time with a nice shot from the edge of the box.

Despite this victory Piacenza are still doomed.

Attendance : 1,000
Assists : Castellini, ?, ?


UDINESE				0-0			BRESCIA

Udinese dominated the match but kept missing great chances. Iaquinta could have scored
a hat-trick and Pizzaro missed an open goal. Baggio and Appiah almost stole what would
have been an ill deserved point late in the match.

Brescia move upto to 8 goal-less draws for the season. It must be a record.

Attendance : 16,000


12 April 2003

INTER					0-1			MILAN
								Inzaghi 62

Milan blitzed Inter from the first minute to the last. Toldo tipped over a long range effort
from Gattuso and Rui Costa had a shot cleared off the line. A truly World Class tackle by
Materazzi denied Shevchenko as he bore down on goal. Minutes later Shevchenko's back heel
rolled just wide of the post. Emre had Inter's only chance of the first half but shot straight at
Dida.

Maldini left the field injured after eating an elbow from Vieri. Shevchenko was twice thwarted
by more superb tackling before Milan took a long overdue lead through Inzaghi. He stayed
onside to steer Rui Costa's pass into the corner. Rui Costa and Gattuso wasted further chances
before Cordoba was sent off for a murderous foul on Serginho, who in turn left the field injured
shortly thereafter. Dida was finally called into action mid-way through the second half when he
tipped over a shot from Recoba. Shevchenko wasted a chance on the break but Milan comfortably
held on despite some cynical late fouls.

A 3-0 loss would have flattered Inter, they were absolutely pathetic. But for better finishing
Milan could have easily matched their 6-0 'away' victory over their neighbours in May 2001.
Materazzi was the only player to emerge with any credit. Once again in a big match Inter go
missing and once again in a big match Milan deliver. Of course the team don't turn up against
jobbers which is why they are out of the title race. Rui Costa was outstanding up until the
moment he gave the assist to Inzaghi. After that he started showboating. Despite failing to
score (he should have scored a hat-trick) Shevchenko absolutely tormented the Inter defence.
A combination of Gattuso and Ambrosini and an un-ambitious game plan prevented Inter from
getting into the game. Barring something ridiculous like winning this years European Cup
Cuper is history.

Attendance : 76,660
Assist : Rui Costa
Red Card : Cordoba 67 (Inter)


COMO					1-1			PERUGIA
Amoruso 28							Miccoli 91

Caccia flicked on a cross, Amoruso, released by Perugia in January, pulled down
the ball, turned and volleyed his new club into the lead. Ferron made a stunning save 
to ruin Ze Maria's perfect penalty record. Miccoli earned a point with another
exceptional goal, a right foot volley on the turn.

Attendance : 5,000
Assist : Caccia


R Mehdi