16 December 2007

CLUB WORLD CUP FINAL


BOCA JUNIORS 2 (Palacio 22, Ambrosini 85 og)
MILAN 4 (Inzaghi 21, Nesta 50, Kaka' 61, Inzaghi 71)

Inzaghi headed a Dida goalkick to Kaka', he dribbled from the centre circle inside the box and as his lazy shot rebounded off Maidana he rolled a centre to the penalty spot and Inzaghi, who had brilliantly pulled off the shoulder of his marker, fired past Caranta. Boca worked a short corner to Rodriguez and his excellent cross was headed in by Palacio.

Pirlo curled a low free kick into the box, Ambrosini sliced the ball against Nesta's left thigh and he cracked a right foot volley into the top left corner, brilliant finish. Maldini injured himself when making a tackle on Ibarra, as he lay on the turf the attack continued, Pirlo casually intercepted Ibarra's centre before flicking the ball past Banega to Kaka', he played it back to Gattuso who waited for the European football of the year to make a run out wide before releasing him with a delightful lob, Kaka' cut in from the left, teased Maidana then hit a tame shot in off Caranta. Seconds after Palacio blew a half chance, brilliantly created by Banega, Milan went downfield and scored their fourth. Seedorf ran onto a poor clearance and played a pass into Kaka' and as two defenders converged he centred for Inzaghi to tap in Milan's fourth. I didn't see a replay of the Kaladze red card. Ledesma was sent off for kicking Kaka'. Ambrosini turned a Ledesma shot into his own net to give the scoreline some respectability.

This is the first time in three finals Milan have made their ICC/CWC opponents look every bit the team of second raters they are, with the exception of Banega who has been earmarked as a replacement for Gattuso. Boca have already rejected an offer from Milan for him. Inzaghi has scored FIVE goals in three finals this year. That’s more than most players manage, Henry for example, in a career. Inzaghi's contract ends in June, there's no chance it won't be renewed. Inzaghi should just play in the Champions League while making the odd appearance as a substitute in Serie A to maintain his match fitness. Along with RVN he's footballs last true marksman. Kaka' was off the charts. He's the best counter attacking player on the planet and in three weeks the Messiah Pato and possibly Amauri arrive in support.

Attendance : 68,263
Red Cards : Kaladze 77 (Milan), Ledesma 88 (Boca Juniors)
Assists : Kaka', Rodriguez, Ambrosini, Gattuso, Kaka', n/a


Serie A

ATALANTA 1 (Amauri 62 og)
PALERMO 3 (Cavani 13, Langella 35 og, Amauri 54)

Atalanta were without their Talisman Cristiano Doni who was given a lame three match suspension for punching the door of the referee's lockeroom. Cavani gave the visitors the lead from a set piece and they doubled their advantage with a lucky second when Biava, attempting to keep an overhit cross back in play, headed against Langella and the ball went in off his shoulder. Amauri settled it with a crisp right foot volley on the counter attack then sliced a Tissone free kick into his own net.

Attendance : 10,000
Assists : Zaccardo, n/a, Zaccardo, n/a


EMPOLI 1 (Giovinco 45)
GENOA 1 (Masiello 87)

Giovinco gave Empoli a half time lead, thumping home a loose ball following a series of deflections. Genoa's equaliser was excellent. Boriello headed on a longball and with his back to play Figueroa leapt in the air and flicked a backheel for Masiello to shoot between Balli's legs.

Attendance : 7,000
Assists : n/a, Figueroa


PARMA 3 (Corradi 26, Pisanu 49, Paci 66)
REGGINA 0

Corradi headed Parma into the lead from a Reginaldo cross. The Brazilian unselfishly laid on a second just after the restart. Gasbarroni split the Reggina defence with a great through pass and Pisanu bundled in Reginaldo's centre at the back post. Paci headed in the third via a deflection.

Attendance : 12,000
Assists : Reginaldo, Reginaldo, n/a


SAMPDORIA 2 (Gastaldello 18, Cassano 70)
FIORENTINA 2 (Mutu 39, Donadel 57)

Lupatelli fumbled a speculative shot from Cassano and Gastaldello pounced on the rebound. Montolivo dropped an exquisite ball over the top of the Sampdoria defence for Mutu to equalise. Cassano was then booked for dissent and literally burst into tears because it rules him out of next week's match against former club Roma. Donadel smashed a loose ball past Castelazzi to give Fiorentina the lead before nutjob Cassano signed off for the year with a tremendous header.

Attendance : 20,000
Assists : n/a, Montolivo, n/a, n/a


SIENA 1 (Frick 63)
NAPOLI 1 (Bogliacino 64)

Frick volleyed Siena into the lead after Portanova headed on a free kick. The excellent Hamsik, one of the best newcomers to Serie A this season, dribbled through the Siena defence before slipping a pass through to Bogliacino whose excellent first touch took him into the box and away from two defenders before he beat Manninger at his near post.

Attendance : 10,000
Assists : Portanova, Hamsik


TORINO 0
ROMA 0

Attendance : 15,000
Red Card : Comotto 89 (Torino)
Assist : n/a


CAGLIARI 0
INTER 2 (Cruz 57, Suazo 79)

Cruz played a one-two with Suazo on the edge of the box before catching Marruocco by surprise with an early shot into the bottom left corner. Predictably Suazo, having missed an open goal earlier, made no mistake on a rebound after Marruocco made a brilliant save to deny Cordoba.

Attendance : 15,000
Assists : Suazo, n/a


15 December 2007

CATANIA 2 (Mascara 8, Mascara 86)
UDINESE 0

Vargas sold Mesto a dummy on the left flank before firing in a low centre which Mascara turned past Handanovic. The striker raced onto Izco's sublime flick on the edge of the box before firing under Handanovic.

Attendance : 16,000
Assists : Vargas, Izco


LAZIO 2 (Pandev 36, Pandev 93)
JUVENTUS 3 (Trezeguet 29, Del Piero 48, Del Piero 70)

Trezeguet gave Juve the lead with a scrappy goal from a corner. Rocchi chested down a Ledesma free kick and Mutarelli hung up a cross to the back post for Pandev to equalise. A firm tack gained Juve possession on the edge of their box, Zanetti (the Italian one not to be confused with the equally rubbish Argentinean) sent Del Piero clear with a monstrous longball and put Juve back in front thanks to more rubbish goalkeeping from Ballotta. His second was a carbon copy only with a more emphatic finish. Pandev headed in a late consolation goal from a Rocchi cross.

Attendance : 20,000
Assists : Salihamidzic, Mutarelli, Zanetti, Zanetti, Rocchi