SERIE A ROUND 30
 
18 April 2004

MODENA				0-1			ROMA
							Totti 54 (fk)

Roma were given the Milan treatment i.e. Modena got everyone behind the ball. Totti won
the match with a brilliant free kick and struck the post with another late on.

This week's rearranged Rome derby will decide the championship. If Roma win it keeps the
pressure on Milan who have a tough trip away to Udinese before hosting Roma in the San Siro,
if they don't it's over.

Attendance : 18,000
Assist : Totti (won fk)


CHIEVO				0-0			REGGINA

About the only benefit in reviewing a goalless draw is that you don't have to write much.

Attendance : 9,964


EMPOLI				1-1			BRESCIA
Gasparetto 78						Ficini 38 (og)

Castelazzi made two fantastic saves then Brescia took a totally undeserved lead. Maniero
won a penalty when he jammed his foot in Cassano's puds and went over. Baggio's penalty
was saved but Ficini beat him to the rebound and put the ball past his own 'keeper, fantastic
own goal. Rodomonti gave Empoli a penalty of their own but Castelazzi was in sensational
form and clawed away Vanucchi's spot kick. Maniero should have made the game safe but
missed a sitter. Castelazzi was finally beaten when a team-mate diverted Dianelli's shot at him
but having saved even that he was helpless on Gasparetto's follow-up. Another brilliant save
ensured Brescia left with a point.

Castelazzi is probably a better goalkeeper than Cudicini and a lot better than Ambrosio
creamed rice. Someone should sign him. Inter could use a new goalkeeper.

Attendance : 6,254


INTER				4-2			BOLOGNA
Recoba 33						Bellucci 67, 76
Cannavaro 52
Stankovic 54
Martins 70

The World's oldest spoilt brat watched from the stands after refusing to sit on the bench.
He's such a prick and a CHOKER! Bologna put about six men on Adriano but he still managed
to get in a cross to Recoba for the first goal. Martin came on for the injured Recoba at the
end of the first half. Cannavaro had reason to cheer in what has been a dreadful season for
him when he headed in a Kily Gonzalez corner. Two minutes later Stankovic finished a superb
move started by Adriano and Martins. Bellucchi pounced on a mistake by Brechet (he won't be
starting another game for a while) to make it 3-1. Martins scored a fantastic fourth. He received
the ball with his back to goal and despite having his shirt tugged he ran forward and with a
magnificent piece of skill as he turned he rolled the ball wide of a defender, effectively passing
to himself, then curled beyond Pagliuca. Locatelli volleyed in goal number six.

Attendance : 50,000
Assists : Adriano, Kily Gonzalez, Martins, Zanetti, Locatelli


LAZIO				4-2			ANCONA
Couto 12, 81						Bucchi 11
Fiore 72							Andersson 64
Zauri 89

Given a rare start Dabo gave away the ball for the opening goal. Ganz played in Bucchi and
his shot beat a very slow Peruzzi. Lazio were level within a minute, Stam flicked on Albertini's
free kick and Couto headed over Marcon though the goal shouldn't have stood as Inzaghi Jr
had his hand right in the 'keepers face. Inzaghi Jr was putting on a cheating clinic, he dived
to win a penalty but his spot kick shot was brilliantly saved by Marcon. In a thoroughly
entertaining second half both 'keepers made excellent saves. Andersson put Ancona back in front
with a well placed shot from the edge of the box. Marcon punched out Albertini's long range
effort and Liverani teed up Fiore for Lazio's second. Couto put them in the lead for the first
time when he smashed in a loose ball and Zauri made sure the points stayed in Rome with
a brilliant individual effort.

Attendance : 44,044
Assists : Stam, Pandev


PARMA				2-2			JUVENTUS
Carbone 35						Di Vaio 77
Gilardino 81						Tudor 92

Buffon spilled a shot by Bresciano, Marchionni lobbed the ball up to the back post and midget
Carbone headed in despite Thuram's late attempt at defending. Bresciano should have scored
a second following another mistake by Buffon. Juve had two penalty appeals turned down in
each half, one of which was 100% legit. It's so funny when it happens to them. Trezeguet, who
kept shooting straight at Frey, finally got something right when he headed on Legrottaglie's
long ball and Di Vaio volleyed into the top corner. Trezeguet missed an easy header then
Gilardino put Parma back in front and once again Buffon has to take some of the blame as
he came off his line, froze and the young strikers shot went in off his arm. Tudor headed in a
late, late equaliser after Miccoli's stunning shot rebounded off a post. Di Vaio should have won
it deep into injury time but headed wide. 

Really poor game from Buffon today. Chievo have conceded less goals then Juve this season.
That's really, really bad.

Attendance : 22,000
Assists : Marchionni, Trezeguet, Morfeo


SAMPDORIA			3-2			PERUGIA
Diana 37						Ze Maria 46 (fk)
Flachi 44, 86 (fk)						Ravanelli 84

Diana put Samp into the lead against the run of play following a terrible mistake by Kalac.
Flachi doubled Samp's advantage when a combination of Zenoni and the Perugia defence
left him in the clear. Ze Maria gave Perugia a lifeline with a superb early second half free kick.
Ravanelli looked to have earned Perugia a deserved point but Flachi almost certainly condemned
them to Serie B when he blasted a free kick into the bottom corner.

Referee Bolognino really screwed over Perugia in this match. They should have been awarded
two penalties for handball, one of which was so blatant Diana should also have been sent off. 
Samp's late free kick was complete bs.

Attendance : 26,000
Assists : Zenoni, Bazzani (won fk)


17 April 2004

LECCE				2-1			UDINESE
Cassetti 45						Jorgensen 23
Chevanton 86

A Lecce defender headed a cross against Iaquinta, the ball fell to Fava and his deflected shot
was turned in at the far post by Jorgensen. Cassetti equalised right on half time when he
slid in to meet just one Tonetto, give it to me, delicious ice cream, from Tonetto's cross.
Pizni was sent off for chopping down Chevanton. De Sanctis had every right to be furious
when having saved an effort from Bojinov, Giacomazzi stripping him of the ball - by slamming
both feet into his ribs and Milan bound Chevanton (he met with officials earlier in the week and
apparently it's a done deal) tapped into an empty net. I'd love to hear referee Dondarini's
explanation for that one, ridiculous decision. Lecce coach Rossi sprained his ankle when he
ran on the pitch to celebrate what is likely to be one hell of an escape act.

Assist : Tonetto
Red Card : Pinzi 49 (Udinese)


SIENA				1-2			MILAN
Chiesa 38 (Pen)						Shevchenko 26
							Kaka' 79

Fortin gifted Milan the lead when he failed to hold Rui Costa's tame shot. Fortin was almost
embarrassed a second time when Kaka' let fly from distance and made an excellent point blank
save from Shevchenko's header. Shevchenko conceded a penalty when he handled a free kick.
Penalty king Dida didn't close to Chiesa's penalty. In the second half Milan were restricted to
long range shooting as Siena defended in numbers. Seconds after Vergassola was shown a red
card Milan regained their lead. Substitute Boriello headed on a corner and Kaka' threw himself
at the ball to head over the line. There were late chances for Boriello and Gattuso.

Attendance : 13,000
Assist : Boriello
Red Card : Vergassola 78

R Mehdi