6 March 2005
LIVORNO 2-2

PALERMO

A Lucarelli 59  

Toni 26, 63

Passoni 73    
     
Brienza headed on Grosso's cross leaving Toni with a tap-in. Zaccardo was sent off for
a second bookable offence. Lucarelli scrambled in the equaliser after Palermo failed
to clear from a corner then inadvertently helped on Grosso's long ball and Toni
finished superbly with a firm toe poke. Passoni beat Guardalden with an excellent
low shot from distance to grab an unlikely share of the points.

Attendance : 12,000
Red Card : Zaccardo 56 (Palermo)
Assists : Brienza, n/a, n/a, Ruotolo
 
 
FIORENTINA 2-1

REGGINA

Pazzini 48  

Colucci 79

Miccoli 69 (Pen)    
     
Di Livio played for Fiorentina! I believe this was his first start this season. Viali
headed on Donadel's free kick and Pazzini stabbed the ball over at the far post.
Franceschini floored Pazzini with an elbow to the nose, drawing blood but Morganti
failed to award a penalty. There should be a new ruling, if you break someone's nose
in the box it's a penalty. Odobo hurdled Pavarini as he went for the ball and got
nowhere near it, this time the ref pointed to the spot. Miccoli converted and
Fiorentina had to endure a nervous final ten minutes after Colucci blasted in from
30 yards.

Attendance : 29,755
Assists : Viali, Odobo (won pen), Bonazzoli
 
 
INTER 2-1

LECCE

Cordoba 26  

Pinardi 21

Adriano 89 (Pen)    
     
Inter had already wasted several chances when Pinardi gave Lecce the lead at the
second attempt after his initial shot was pushed straight back at him by Carini.
Cordoba headed in the equaliser from a Mihajlovic corner. Inter were creating
chances at will but a combination of awful finishing and superb goalkeeping kept
them at bay. Had Lecce managed to get more possession they could have easily
scored a second as Carini was dropping everything. Angelo pissed away a point when
he kicked Cruz in the ribs. Adriano scored his first goal since December from the
penalty spot. I believe he's missed the last two penalties he's taken.

Attendance : 50,000
Assists : n/a, Mihajlovic, Cruz (won pen)
 
 
MESSINA 1-0

LAZIO

Coppola 44    
     
Attendance : 32,000
Assist : n/a
 
 
PARMA 3-2

CAGLIARI

Gilardino 10  

Bonera 4 (og)

Bovo 17  

Suazo 89

Simplico 93    
     
Bonera beat Esposito to Zola's cross but unfortunately for him headed into his own net.
I so hope Juve sign Bonera next season, he's Panucci level useless. Gilardino, arguably
the best finisher in the game today, turned onto Bresciano's centre, rode a tackle and
tapped the ball into the corner. Gilardino headed on Bresciano's corner and Bovo
connected with a diving header. Morfeo came within inches of scoring one of the
greatest goals of all time. Gilardino stole the ball off a defender and passed into
Morfeo, with his back to goal he flicked the ball up, performed a kick up then hit a
back heel volley which rebounded off a post. Frey was sent off for bringing down
Swayze. Frey should hit the gym in his week off because he's fat. Bucci came on for
Morfeo. Bianchi headed on a cross, Swayze took the ball on his chest before drilling
into the bottom corner. Substitute Simplico pulled down Gilardino's cross, beat a
defender and hit a FANTASTIC shot from 30 yards right into the top corner. What a
goal, what a match.

Serie A at it's best, fast paced with high levels of technique and stunning goals. I'm
not sure how much Milan have paid for Gilardino (between €6-8 million) but he's
worth 4x that.

Attendance : 12,995
Red Card : Frey 66 (Parma)
Assists : n/a, Bresciano, Gilardino, Bianchi, Gilardino
 
 
SAMPDORIA 1-0

CHIEVO

Gasbarroni 82    
     
Attendance : 21,800
Assist : Flachi (fk)
 
 
SIENA 2-3

BRESCIA

Chiesa 53  

Di Biagio 40

Maccarone 90  

Caracciolo 45

   

Mannini 74

     
Di Biagio gave Brescia the lead with a superb header from Wome's corner. Di Biagio
helped on a hopeful punt into the box, Caracciolo was alone as the Siena defence
appealed for offside and hammered the ball into the bottom corner. Manninger
launched a ball about 80 yards, it bounced on the edge of the box and Chiesa
smashed a right foot volley in off the post, brilliant finish. Siena took control but were
hit on the break, Mannini left with an easy finish from Stankevicius' centre. Maccarone
scored a last minute consolation goal after D'Aversa's deflected shot landed at his
feet.

Attendance : 8,000
Assists : Wome (fk), Di Biagio, Manninger, Stankevicius, n/a
 
 
UDINESE 0-1

BOLOGNA

   

Tare 4

     
Attendance : 15,000
Assist : Zagorakis
 
 
5 March 2005
 
ATALANTA 1-2

MILAN

Makinwa 73  

Ambrosini 71

   

Pirlo 94

     
This was one of the most entertaining matches involving Milan in some time, largely
because Atalanta went for it instead of playing shithead football. Bernardini's free
kick struck the inside of a post and Nesta should have been sent off for hauling
down Makinwa by his shirt as he ran in on goal. Ambrosini headed Milan into the lead
from Pirlo's free kick and Makinwa equalised in the same fashion two minutes later.
Lazzari wasted a great chance to give Atalanta the lead, shooting straight at Dida
from Makinwa's pass. Ambrosini chested down a cross but shot wide. If he was as
good with his feet as he is with his head he'd be a striker. Makinwa was booked for
trying to punch the ball into his own net. Tomasson bounced a fantastic pass from
Pirlo on his chest before leaping in the air and hitting an overhead kick, forcing
Calderoni into making a great save. Makinwa, who has extraordinary pace, shot his
hamstrings with all the running and had to be stretchered off with cramp. Inzaghi,
on as a 77th minute substitute for Crespo, forced Calderoni into a save after
Ambrosini headed on a throw in, Pirlo blasted in the loose ball to give Milan another
lastminute.com victory.

Attendance : 21,000
Assists : Pirlo (fk), Bernardini (fk), n/a
 
 
ROMA 1-2

JUVENTUS

Cassano 39  

Cannavaro 11

   

Del Piero 44 (Pen)

     
Emerson made a fantastic block from Ferrari after Buffon parried a free kick. Without
Nedved all Juve have is set pieces fortunately for them Camoranesi's delivery of a
dead ball is just about as good as anyones. Ibrahimovic was standing in an offside
position when he connected with the midfielder's free kick, Pelizzoli saved and
Cannavaro headed in the rebounded. While Racalbuto can't be blamed for that
decision his officiating during the rest of the match was an absolute disgrace. How
Roma ended the match with 11 men is a mystery. Totti jumped into Zebina as
he cleared and Dacourt also should have been sent off for an appalling challenge
on Blasi. Having taken a break from trying to maim their opponents Roma scored
a wonderful equaliser. Cassano played a ball into Totti and he hit a fabulous through
pass, scything through the Juve defence, Cassano shot first time, gently pushing the
ball past Buffon. Zalayeta dived in or around the penalty area under a 'challenge'
from Dellas. Cufre gave Del Piero a slap in the face for converting.

Despite their superior possession Roma failed to trouble Buffon, largely because of
an outstanding defensive display by the visitors.

Attendance : 71,000
Assists : n/a, Totti, Zalayeta (won pen)
 
 
R Mehdi