SERIE A ROUND 9
 
Great Week For Defending Champions

Two mistakes by Pirlo hand Juventus victory over Milan and coupled with
Inter's shock defeat at home to Udinese, the reigning champions move to
within a point of Inter at the top of the table. Roma and Lazio can only
muster draws allowing form team Chievo to leapfrog them into fourth
place. Baggio misses a penalty as Empoli stun Brescia at home.


10 NOVEMBER 2002

JUVENTUS			2-1		MILAN
Di Vaio 8					Pirlo 32 (Pen)
Thuram 21

Two horrendous mistakes by Pirlo handed Juve an early lead. He lost possession
after failing to control a pass, Nedved dropped a fantastic ball over the Milan
defence sending Del Piero racing clear down the right flank and centred for
Di Vaio to tap-in. Just as Milan threatened to get back in the match Pirlo dived
on the edge of the Juve box waiting for a free kick which never arrived, Juve
broke quickly and Del Piero picked out Thuram who ran into a ton of space
again on the right before finding the corner of the net, his second goal in 137
matches! Pirlo pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after Birindelli handled
in the box. Buffon made a fantastic save from Rivaldo at the end of the half.

Milan edged possession in the second half without really threatening. Indeed
it was Juventus who created the best chances. Nedved (twice) and Del Piero
should have put the defending champions out of sight.

After a bright start Milan's defensive frailties are coming to the fore. Ancelotti
hasn't got the squad to play defensive and now has major problems in attack
because Inzaghi and Shevchenko simply cannot co-exist. Inzaghi was AWOL
today and Shevchenko fared little better after coming on as a second half
substitute.

Assists : Del Piero (x2)


BOLOGNA			1-0		COMO
Signori 74 (Pen)

Cruz went down in the box after a nothing challenge by Brevi. Signori
converted. Bologna created loads of chances but most of them fell to Bellucci
and he sucks.

Attendance : 20,000
Assist : Cruz (won pen)


BRESCIA				0-2		EMPOLI
						Busce 82
						Di Natale 92

Rocchi held off two defenders before sticking a cross to the back post and
Busce headed in his first Serie A goal. Brescia should have been level
5 minutes later when they were awarded a penalty. Baggio's casual spot kick
was easily saved by Berti. Filippini earned a second yellow for kicking an
opponent. Future Italy international Di Natale added a second in injury time,
he pulled down Cappellini's long ball before firing past Srnicek.

Attendance : 16,200
Red Card : A Filippini 88 (Brescia)
Assists : Rocchi, Cappellini


CHIEVO				4-1		ATALANTA
Cossato 45, 86					Sala 40
Franceschini 56
Perrotta 83

Berretta helped on Gautieri's corner and Sala headed past Lupatelli. The first
goal conceded by Chievo in two weeks, at least it wasn't due to their once
infamous offside trap. Chievo were level on the stroke of half time. Cossato
headed in Franceschini's cross. A brilliant counter attack almost broke down
when Perrotta got the ball caught in his feet, fortunately Franceschini arrived
to help him out and drilled the ball inside the post. A beautiful pass by
Pellisier took out two defenders on the by-line and Perrotta smashed the
ball past Taibi. Pellisier also had a hand in Chievo's fourth, he rolled a ball
to Andersson who in turn centred for Cossato, he flicked the ball up before
volleying into the bottom corner. Doni earned himself a red card for lashing
out late on.

A third straight victory for Chievo. They played some excellent passing
football. Not as direct as in the past and it looks like their offside trap is
finally dead.

Attendance : 13,200
Red Card : Doni 94 (Atalanta)
Assists : Berretta, Franceschini, Perrotta


LAZIO				0-0		PARMA

Lazio were awarded a penalty for handball by Adriano. Mihajlovic smashed
the ball against the inside of a post. Adriano headed a free kick against the.
Liverani was sent off for throwing the ball at Ferrari having earlier pushed
Donati in front of the ref. Ferrari did not roll on the floor pretending to be
injured! Negro should have been sent off for trying to cripple Mutu with a
horrible, horrible foul. Peruzzi needed stitches in his head after eating a
knee from Mutu when challenging for a ball. Peruzzi should have been sent
off for a blatant body check on Gilardino outside the box.

A dirty match. Lazio got away with murder after going down to 10 men.

Attendance : 40,000
Red Card : Liverani 36 (Lazio)


PERUGIA				2-1		TORINO
Caracciolo 37					Ferrante 80
Ze Maria 87 (Pen)

Perugia's giant young striker Caracciolo put his team in front when he got
on the end of Di Loreto's cross. Ferrante, who had struck the woodwork in
the first half, slammed in a loose ball after Rossi spilled a cross. An incredibly
stupid foul by Galante gave Perugia a penalty and the points. He pushed
midget Miccoli as a cross floated into the box. It wasn't much of a push but
Miccoli is only 3ft 6in. Ze Maria smashed the ball high into the net.

Attendance : 10,200
Assists : Di Loreto, Miccoli (won pen)


REGGINA			0-1		MODENA
						Pasino 80

Savoldi should have given Reggina the lead when a phenomenal 60yd pass
from Nakamura sent him clear. There was a similar opening for Kamara
early in the second half but he was denied by a superb tackle from Reggina
goalkeeper Castelazzi. Mauri curled a free kick against the crossbar. Pasino
the match with a scrappy goal.

Modena play some great football. Nakamura wouldn't look out of place in
a better team.

Assist : Taldo


9 NOVEMBER 2002

INTER				1-2		UDINESE
Vieri 3						Jorgensen 25
						Muzzi 55

Having taken an early lead victory should have been a formality for Inter
against struggling Udinese. Morfeo combined on the left with Coco and his
cross took a deflection off Sensini and Vieri powered a header past
De Sanctis. Out of nowhere Udinese suddenly equalised. Jorgensen, a long
time target for Inter before his recent injury problems, received a pass 30yds
from goal, he took three steps forward, looked up and unleashing an amazing
shot into the top corner. Vieri missed a great chance then had a valid penalty
appeal turned down when Sensini cleared a ball and also Vieri in the process.
smacked a volley against the post. An unfortunate deflection by Coco handed
Udinese the points and Inter their first league loss of the season. 

Attendance : 58,962
Assist : Pieri


PIACENZA			1-1		ROMA
Maresca 73					Cassano 26

Nut job Cassano volleyed Roma in front after Panucci helped on Cafu's corner.
Candela gifted Piacenza a penalty when he checked Maresca. The Boss shot
horribly wide. Totti had two chances to kill off Piacenza. First he shot wide
following good interplay with Cassano then he hit an exquisite lob over
Guardalben only for the ball to come back off the inside of a post. Cassano
also blew a one on one against the 'keeper. Maresca stole a point for the
hosts with a fantastic free kick.

Attendance : 50,000
Assists : Panucci, ?


R Mehdi