28 November 2004

INTER				2-2			JUVENTUS
Vieri 79							Zalayeta 53
Adriano 85						Ibrahimovic 66 (Pen)

The highlight of the first half was James Richardson reading out my e-mail on British
Eurosport :

'Serie A's advantage over the Premiership and La Liga was the fact that
there were only 18 teams. 20 teams just increases the mediocrity'.

The esteemed panel of David Platt and Gabriele Marcotti agreed.

Juventus took the lead when Nedved's speculative shot deflecting in off Zalayeta.
A fantastic pass from Camoranesi sent Zalayeta clear on goal, Toldo flattened him,
penalty but only a yellow. I still want to know why Dida was sent off after 10 minutes
in week one yet most other 'keepers committing similar fouls have remained on the
pitch. Ibrahimovic just about converted and 0-2 down against Juventus you'd think
surely this time there would be no way back for Inter. Mancini immediately substituted
Davids, who faded after a good first half for Recoba and Van der Meyde for Vieri.
Needless to say the gamble paid off. An absolutely magnificent pass from Recoba was
brilliantly half volleyed into the bottom corner by Vieri, his eighth against Buffon. Inter's
three strikers combined for the equaliser. Vieri passed out wide to Martins, he floated
a cross towards the back post, Thuram flung himself at the ball but missed, Adriano
didn't, 2-2. Inter almost snatched the points at the death when Buffon dropped a
corner but his defence bailed him out.

Match of the season.

Attendance : 78,741
Assists : Nedved, Zalayeta (won pen), Recoba, Martins


ATALANTA			0-1			REGGINA
							Paredes 12

Attendance : 10,000
Assists : n/a


BOLOGNA			0-0			LECCE

Attendance : 21,000
Assists : n/a


BRESCIA				0-2			PALERMO
							Zauli 10
							Brienza 24

Toni, who is Palermo's attack, didn't get on the score sheet today but made both goals.
The first with a pass around a defender, brilliantly finished by Zauli and the second
with a lay-off from Corini's free kick.

Attendance : 10,000
Assists : Toni (x2)


CHIEVO				0-1			MILAN
							Crespo 50

Attendance : 25,000
Assist : n/a


LAZIO				2-3			CAGLIARI
Pandev 8						Langella 34
Oddo 80 (Pen)						Esposito 65
							Zola 71

Katergiannakis, the second Greek 'keeper in Serie A, parried Couto's header straight to
Macedonian striker Pandev and he scored his first Serie A goal before getting a yellow
card for removing his shirt. Oddo and Couto parted like the red sea, allowing Langella
in to score the equaliser. Peruzzi was sent off for bringing down Esposito just outside the
box when his defence played offside on a longball over the top, which is always a great
tactic. Normally I would say a card is preferable to conceding but not when you're a
goalkeeper It didn't take long for Cagliari to make their numerical advantage count.
Zola sent Langella clear with a toe poke down the left flank and he pulled the ball back
to Esposito who held off Lopez to score. A similar move gave Cagliari their third, this
time Zola got on the end of a pass and smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Inzaghi Jr had a big chunk of Maltagliati's shirt as he fell, clear penalty. Oddo converted
but Lazio couldn't find a third.

Attendance : 35,000
Red Card : Peruzzi 57 (Lazio)
Assists : n/a, Conti, Langella, Gobbi, Inzaghi (won pen)


MESSINA			1-1			FIORENTINA
Parisi 69 (Pen)						Ariatti 54

Ariatti scored a freak goal. He ran onto a pass down Fiorentina's left and tried his luck
with a shot from an improbable angle, as he shot he did a thigh muscle ball and the
ball flew into the top corner, beating Eleftheropulos at his near post. The Italian
commentator called Messina's penalty 'molto dubbio', no guesses for what that means.
Amoruso must have learned from former Juventus team-mate Inzaghi as he pulled
himself down with the aid of defender Viali's shirt. Parisi slotted the ball into the
bottom corner. 

Attendance : 32,000
Assists : Fantini, Amoruso (won pen)


SAMPDORIA			1-0			PARMA
Flachi 94 (Pen)

Attendance : 22,000
Assist : Flachi (won pen)


27 November 2004

LIVORNO			1-2			UDINESE
Lucarelli C 65 (fk)						Iaquinta 13
							Di Michele 53

Iaquinta gave Udinese the lead with a cracking shot on the turn although he was left
unmarked in the box following a failed offside trap. Udinese scored a deserved second,
having wasted numerous chances, when Di Michele controlled Pinzi's knockdown with
his arm before lashing the ball into the roof of the net. Lucarelli scored with a brilliant
free kick and Udinese survived a second half onslaught to go three points clear in third
place.

Attendance : 15,000
Assists : Di Natale, Pinzi, C Lucarelli (won fk)


SIENA				0-4			ROMA
							Montella 58, 68
							Totti 71, 90

Cassano, possibly realising throwing tantrums isn't going to earn him a move away
from Roma, was outstanding in this match, making all four goals. A perfectly weighted
cross from the left was headed in by Montella and 'the little aeroplane' scored his
11th of the season with a simple tap-in after Cassano flicked back Panucci's header.
Totti finished off a rapid counter attack to score Roma's third. Cassano skipped a
tackle in midfield and played in his captain with a reverse pass, Totti finished off the
scoring with a lob over the onrushing Fortin.

Let's hope Cassano plays like this against Real Madrid.

Attendance : 20,000
Assists : Cassano (x4)


R Mehdi