19 December 2004

PALERMO			3-0			CAGLIARI
Zauli 33
Brienza 37
Toni 39

A superb opener, similar to Chelsea's third against Norwich yesterday. Toni back heeled
Zaccardo's cross to Zauli and he blasted first time into the bottom corner. Toni forced
the second goal when he collected a pass and turned towards goal, two Cagliari defenders
hacked away, the ball broke for Brienza and he smashed it past Iezzo. Toni scored a
deserved if somewhat predictable third when he headed in a free kick.

Attendance : 32,927
Assists : Toni, n/a, Corini (fk)


BOLOGNA			2-0			REGGINA
Bellucci 5 (Pen)
Meghni 62

Having been screwed over by the ref last week Bologna were presented with the gift of
a penalty after just five minutes. Bellucci did the Signori one step routine, slamming the
ball into the corner. Shortly after Pagliuca prevented De Rosa from scoring the equaliser
with an amazing save Bellucci back heeled Cipriani's pass into Meghni and he lobbed
over the advancing Soviero. Bellucci's mindless handball gave Reggina a chance from
the spot but Dionigi shot wide.

Attendance : 18,000
Assists : Cipriani (won pen), Cipriani


FIORENTINA			2-0			CHIEVO
Rigano 45
Portillo 70 (fk)

Having troubled Marchegiani (and the post) with some cracking long range shots
Fiorentina took the lead from a corner. They wasted several chances before Portillo,
looking disturbingly like Rod Stewart did 20 years ago with that God awful mullet,
embarrassed Marchegiani with a low free kick.

Attendance : Portillo (ck), Maggio (won fk)
Red Cards : Lanna 69 (Chievo), Maggio 84 (Fiorentina)
Assists : Portillo (ck), Maggio (won fk)


INTER				1-0			BRESCIA
Mihajlovic 25 (fk)

Attendance : 50,000
Assist : Vieri (won fk)


LECCE				1-4			SAMPDORIA
Vucinic 54						Flachi 38 (Pen), 50
							Tonetto 61
							Kutozov 93	

Ayroldi handed the match to Sampdoria by sending off Diamoutene after Rossini fell
in the box, refereeing ineptitude usually only seen in Spain and England. Flachi
smashed in the penalty and Lecce were taken apart. Flachi tapped in a second
after Tonetto blew past the Lecce defence and rolled the ball across goal. Vucinic
tapped-in after Antonioli failed to hold Bojinov's shot. Tonetto's stunning half volley
restored Samp's two goal cushion and Kutozov grabbed his first Serie A goal with a
finely placed shot from the edge of the box.

Christmas can't come soon enough for Lecce, they've ran out of gas like most of
Zeman's teams do a couple of months into the season.

Attendance : 12, 730
Red Card : Diamoutene 37
Assists : Rossini (won pen), Tonetto, n/a, Doni, Doni


ROMA				5-1			PARMA
Cassano 10, 50						Bovo 45
Totti 29, 57
Montella 52

Curci made his debut for Roma it this match but it wasn't Curci the striker of
Championship Manager fame but a goalkeeper.

When Cassano is in the mood there isn't a better player in the World. There must have
been a full moon because he was in the zone today. He flicked a raking pass from Totti
to himself, took one step forward and bent the ball inside the post. His next trick was
so good it promoted the commentator to liken it to something seen in video games.
He recovered the ball after a defender tired to clear his cross and with his back to
play standing next to the far post he did a kick-up then volleyed a pass on the turn
to the back post, Montella connected with an overhead kick, it would have been one
of THE all time great goals but a defender blocked the shot, Totti latched onto the
ball, worked himself and opening and shot wide of Frey. Following a brief period of
sustained pressure Bovo headed Parma back into the match from a corner. Cassano
put the breaks on a potential comeback with an emphatic finish after Totti won a
ball in midfield and sent him clear. Montella latched onto Cassano's fantastic crossfield
pass and charged forward, with Totti on his right, Cassano and Aquilani on his right the
Parma defence were hopelessly outnumbered, he decided to go himself and whacked in
the fourth. With an exquisite first touch Totti pulled down a cross from Cufre before
sending a right foot volley ripping into the net. Just like the Roma of last season.

Attendance : 45,000
Red Card : Pisanu 74 (Parma)
Assists : Totti, n/a, Morfeo (ck), Totti, Cassano, Cufre


SIENA				1-1			LIVORNO
Vergassola 43						A Lucarelli 56

Pecchia fell as he controlled a chipped pass on his chest and Vergassola arrived to
blast the ball into the net. Lucarelli equalised with a bullet header from Passoni's
corner.

Attendance : 10,000
Assists : Pecchia, Passoni (ck)


UDINESE			3-0			LAZIO
Pizarro 14 (Pen)
Di Michele 17
Iaquinta 36

Siviglia gave his under fire coach the best possible start by getting himself sent off for
chopping down Iaquinta. Iaquinta hit a stupendously hard shot from the free kick
into goal but it was disallowed for a 'foul' by Muntari. Realising the error of his ways
Tombolini dreamed up a penalty for Udinese, after Pizarro converted he made him
retake it for encroachment. Tombolini is an arsehole. A magnificent lobbed pass
beat Lazio's offside trap and Di Michele punished hesitancy by Casazza to score
Udinese's second. A stunning, lightning quick, one touch passing counter attack
was finished off by Iaquinta.

The Friuli holds 41,825 people given how Udinese are playing their average
attendance is a disgrace.

Attendance : 15,000
Red Card : Siviglia 8 (Lazio)
Assists : Di Michele, Di Natale, Di Michele


18 December 2004

JUVENTUS			0-0			MILAN

Milan totally dominated the first half, playing with great flair and imagination but
were let down by a poor final ball. Milan had two penalty appeals turned down, both
for fouls by Zebina on Crespo and Kaladze, all in full view of Bertini, the bent bastard.
Shevchenko struck a post. Juve's first 'shot' arrived on 44 minutes.

Juve came out in the second half with the express intention of playing for a draw and
they succeeded thanks to Bertini's weak officiating. Pirlo should have won it in the last
minute following an outstanding run by Shevchenko but dragged his shot wide.

Every 50-50 decision went for Juve, just as it did last week. Shame Galliani is no longer
president of the league. Don't expect to see 55,000 in the Delle Alpi anytime soon, this
is the first time in about three years that Juve have failed to score at home.

Attendance : 55,000


MESSINA			1-0			ATALANTA
Di Napoli 10 (Pen)

Suspended due to heavy rain.

R Mehdi