31 October 2007

ATALANTA 2 (Capelli 55, Doni 79 fk)
CAGLIARI 2 (Fini 39 Pen, Matri 70)

Fini smashed Cagliari into the lead from the penalty spot after Zampagna handled in the box. Capelli equalised with a near post header. Coppola spilled Parola's ferocious low drive and Matri volleyed in the rebound. Doni equalised with a stunning free kick. Deep into injury time Zampagna was dismissed for an appalling foul, he stamped his studs into Parlola's left thigh in full view of the ref.

This was Atalanta's third successive draw and they appear to be mimicking last season's form - a bright start followed by a dodgy run in the winter.

Attendance : 10,000
Red Card : Zampagna 93 (Atalanta)
Assists : n/a, Tissone (ck), n/a, Tissone (won fk)


FIORENTINA 1 (Vieri 61)
NAPOLI 0

Attendance : 35,568
Assist : Mutu


INTER 4 (Cordoba 8, Cambiasso 50, Suazo 74, Cruz 89 Pen)
GENOA 1 (Konko 73)

Genoa goalkeeper Rubinho made a fantastic point blank save from Crespo but Cordoba beat him on the rebound. Rubinho gave up another rebound for Inter's second though this time due to a handling error. Shortly after Crespo was substituted after two embarrassing misses Genoa pulled a goal back, Figueroa delicately laid off a through pass for the very impressive French full back Konko to shoot past Inter's Orlandoni. Suazo punished a defensive mistake to score his first goal for the Nerazzurri then dived to win a penalty for Cruz to score a late fourth.

Attendance : 47,230
Assists : n/a, n/a, Figueroa, n/a, Suazo (won pen)


JUVENTUS 3 (Trezeguet 51 Pen, Trezeguet 62, Trezeguet 70)
EMPOLI 0

A fabulous pass from Palladino sent Trezeguet clear on goal, Balli charged off his line, Trezeguet hooked his right leg against him before throwing himself over to win the classic Serie A penalty. I'm sure Inzaghi invented it. Trezeguet's last penalty handed Italy the World Cup, this time he was a bit more accurate, I say a bit because Balli got a touch. His second goal was a fantastic header and he completed his hat-trick by tapping in a rebound prompting his mother in law (in the stands) to cross herself.

Trezeguet has to be the most under-rated high profile player in the World. I cannot understand why he sucks so bad in a France shirt. With the possible exception of Van Nistelrooy there isn't a better finisher in World football.

Attendance : 15,000
Assists : Trezeguet (won pen), Tiago, n/a


PALERMO 1 (Amauri 86 Pen)
PARMA 1 (Morrone 3)

Morrone volleyed Parma into a third minute lead from a deflected corner. Parma were the better side but paid the price for wasteful finishing and Morfeo's clumsy penalty box challenge on Amauri.

Attendance : 22,680
Assists : n/a, Amauri (won pen)


REGGINA 1 (Amoruso 37)
LIVORNO 3 (Pulzetti 34, Valdez 78 og, Rossini 90)

After some horrendous finishing by both sides, Pulzetti managed to get a shot on target and Reggina's goalkeeper Campagnolo let the ball slip between his legs. Amoruso headed in the equaliser after the Livorno wasted to chances to clear a free kick. Valdez volleyed Tavano's inswinging free kick into his own net and Rossini ultimately scored the goal that got Reggina coach Massimo Ficcadenti the sack, tapping in a late third from man of the match Tavano's assist.

Attendance : 11,000
Assists : Tavano, n/a, n/a, Tavano


ROMA 3 (Vucinic 19, Mancini 42, Perrotta 56)
LAZIO 2 (Rocchi 12, Mexes 70 og)

An extraordinary piece of skill from the ever brilliant Tommaso Rocchi gave struggling Lazio the lead. Pandev dropped a cross over Mexes but didn't get enough distance on the ball, Rocch jumped in the air and back-heeled the ball forward with his right foot then shot past Doni with his left. Old man Ballotta was beaten from close range by a Vucinic toe poke and just before half time Mancini played a one-two with Mexes on the edge of the Lazio box before thumping a half volley past Ballotta. Vucinic volleyed on a cross and as Ballotta came off his line, Perrotta flicked the ball over his head before tapping into an empty net. Mexes got a deflection to take a Ledesma free kick past Doni.

Attendance : 65,000
Assists : Pandev, Mancini, Mexes, Vucinic, n/a


SAMPDORIA 0
MILAN 5 (Kaka' 47, Gilardino 53, Gilardino 61, Gourcuff 76, Seedorf 80)

In the opening minutes of the second half Pirlo released Gilardino with an exquisite pass over the top of the Sampdoria defence, Gilardino managed to keep the ball in play and centre for Kaka' to tap in his seventh goal of the season. Seedorf danced with the ball in the box before passing out wide to the onrushing Serginho and he crossed to the back post for Gilardino to head in the second. The duo combined to give Milan an unassailable 0-3 lead. Gilardino held off his marker and turned before shooting past Castelazzi. Seedorf, staggeringly Milan's most consistent performer this season, played in substitute Gourcuff with a great reverse pass and the Frenchman curled a stunning first time shot into the roof of the net. Fittingly Seedorf completed the rout with a far post header.

This was the second successive away match in which Milan scored five goals. Results like this and the performances against Lazio, Benfica and Shakhtar prove this side isn't as ready for the scrap heap as many seem to think. The problems remain the poor quality of the subs bench.

Attendance : 20,000
Assists : Gilardino, Serginho, Serginho, Seedorf, Brocchi


SIENA 1 (De Ceglie 80)
CATANIA 1 (Vargas 89)

Catania goalkeeper Eleftheropoulos saved a poorly struck Maccarone penalty. The striker made amends with a great reverse pass for substitute De Ceglie to fire Siena into the lead. Vargas earned Catania a share of the points with a superb angled left footed drive from 30 yards.

Attendance : 8,000
Assists : Maccarone, Martinez


UDINESE 2 (Floro Flores 25, Inler 52)
TORINO 1 (Ventola 64)

Quagliarella jumped on the much smaller Comotto to flick on a corner and Floro Flores headed in his first ever Serie A goal. Unbelievably he made four appearances for Italy's U21 team in 2004, he's rubbish. At the end of the half Vailatti was sent off for cynically kicking Inler in the balls. Swiss International midfielder Inler exacted his revenge and showed his dangly bits were in working order by breaking his Serie A cherry with a fantastic shot from 20 yards. Dossena's late, two footed sliding tackle earned his a red card. Ventola ghosted into the box to tap-in Comotto's excellent centre.

Attendance : 15,000
Red Cards : Vailatti 43 (Torino), Dossena 56 (Udinese)
Assists : Quagliarella, Di Natale, Comotto