Serie A Round 37

22 May 2005

ATALANTA	0-1	ROMA
		Cassano 50

A marvellous cross from Mancini was finished in typically extravagant style by Cassano. There were plenty of chances at both ends but Montella should have put the result beyond doubt but, short on confidence, wasted a one vs one against Calderoni. Atalanta's form in the second half of the season would have kept them up if they didn't stink so bad in the first. I will be amazed if Makinwa is still at the club next season. Attendance : 30,000 Assist : Mancini

BRESCIA	2-1	MESSINA
Di Biagio 62		Amoruso 91
Milanetto 72

I can't help thinking Roma's UEFA Cup qualification, which meant Messina couldn't qualify themselves, had something to do with Messina' awful performance in this match. Brescia should have been four goals up before scoring twice from Wome corners. Amoruso hit a great consolation goal in stoppage time. Attendance : 15,000 Assists : Wome (ck), Wome (ck), Cucciari

CAGLIARI	1-1	UDINESE
Esposito 67		Iaquinta 48

Zola was presented with a large silver ball before the match for his excellent work in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Actually it was for fair play. Iaquinta pounced after Mauri's shot was deflected. Budel chipped a free kick into the box, Budel headed on and Esposito volleyed past Handanovic. Attendance : 15,000 Assists : n/a, Budel

CHIEVO	1-0	BOLOGNA
Mandelli 81

A scrappy goal gave Chievo new coach his second successive victory. Attendance : 17,515 Assist : n/a

LAZIO	1-1	FIORENTINA
Siviglia 18		Maresca 2

Chiellini volleyed Miccoli's free kick against the crossbar and Maresca, who has been a massive flop, headed in the rebound. Antonioli Filippini flicked on Oddo's corner and Siviglia headed past Lupatelli. In an extraordinary passage of play Miccoli's long shot cannoned off the crossbar and Jorgensen, who has also been a massive flop, hit a violent half volley towards the top corner but Zauli got back and made one of the most spectacular goal-line clearances of all time only he used his hand. On first viewing I thought he headed it clear so can understand why it wasn't given. To make matter worse Miccoli was stretchered off on the hour and Siviglia cleared a lob off the line. Attendance : 45,000 Assist : n/a, A Filippini

LIVORNO	2-2	JUVENTUS
Protti 47		Nedved 10
C Lucarelli 55		Trezeguet 66

Juve's first goal was quite special as it involved at least three passes, Ibrahimovic passed to Kapo who was on edge of the penalty area, he took out a defender with a dummy then rolled the ball to Nedved and he hammered a right foot shot into the corner, brilliant goal. Protti headed in the equaliser just after the restart from a cross which Cannavaro simply didn't bother to clear. Another cross, one that was a lot harder to deal with, sent Lucarelli top of the scoring charts. Trezeguet equalised with an excellent shot on the turn. Attendance : 20,000 Assist : Kapo, Giallombardo, Lucarelli, Zalayeta

REGGINA	2-2	LECCE
Bonazzoli 9		Vucinic 15, 43
Paredes 30

A mistake by Stovini allowed Bonazzoli to volley Reggina into the lead. More astonishingly poor defending at the opposite end allowed Vucinic to equalise. Apparently Vucinic celebrated by doing an RKO (Pro-Wrestling move). Some flares were thrown on the pitch and Paparesta appeared to stop the match for a couple of minutes. Paredes restored Reggina's lead when he volleyed through a packed penalty area after Lecce failed to clear Nakamura's cross and Vucinic hit another equaliser with a crisp first time strike. This has to be the first time Lecce have not conceded goals due to screwing up offside. In terms of pure finishing Vucinic is much, much better than Bojinov. If Milan don't get Gilardinho they'll make a move for him. Attendance : 20,000 Assists : Esteves, Angelo, n/a, Valdes There's no point in describing the relegation situation as Werner has already done it and even if he hadn't I still wouldn't have bothered. Everyone from 11-19 can be relegated so it should be the great relegation battle of all time.

SAMPDORIA	0-1	INTER
		Adriano 36

This was a thoroughly entertaining match. Samp hit the woodwork three times but Adriano broke his latest goal drought (ten games) on a counter attack. If Chelsea offer €30-40 million for him Inter should take it. They need midfielders, defenders and a goalkeeper more then they need him. Attendance : 32,000 Assist : Cruz


20 March 2005

MILAN	3-3	PALERMO
Serginho 8, 16		Costacurta 9 (og)
Tomasson 32		Toni 77 (Pen)
		Barone 79

Serginho stabbed in a loose ball after Guardalben blocked from Tomasson and Kaka's rebound was charged down. I believe Palermo levelled direct from the kick-off as the directors missed the build up. Toni flicked on a longball Costacurta tried to head it to Abbiati but Abbiati was miles off his line and the ball bounced into the net. Serginho put Milan back in front with an excellent goal. Crespo returned his pass with a back heel, Serginho miss-controlled initially but quickly recovered to lift over Guardalben. Tomasson volleyed Brocchi's cross into the ground and the ball looped into the net. Inzaghi replaced the lively Crespo on the hour mark and did a whole bunch of nothing. Tombolini gave Palermo a bullshit penalty then Barone slammed in the equaliser following a series of deflections. Attendance : 40,000 Assists : n/a, Crespo, Brocchi, Zauli (won pen), n/a