1 March 2009

ATALANTA 0
CHIEVO 2 (Langella 78, Pellissier 89 Pen)

This was only Atalanta's third defeat at home this season. The match seemed to be petering out for a draw until the second half introduction of Langella, who spent a season at Atalanta two years ago. Frey's cross popped up off the shoulder of Pellissier and Langella rifled the ball in at the back post. He also forced the penalty for Chievo's second, awarded for handball.

Attendance : 10,000
Red Card : Manfredini 82 (Atalanta)
Assists : Pellissier, n/a


CAGLIARI 0
TORINO 0

Attendance : 10,000
Assists : n/a


PALERMO 0
CATANIA 4 (Ledesma 14, Morimoto 37, Mascara 44, Paolucci 66)

Ledesma sent Catania on the way to a thumping victory in the Sicilian derby with an early diving header. Bresciano was red carded for jumping in two footed on Morimoto. Fortunately he didn't make a great deal of contact but had to go. Morimoto exacted his revenge when he chased down a longball to make it 0-2. Mascara then scored the goal of the season. Morimoto headed back a goalkick and Mascara, standing just outside the centre circle, hit an incredible right foot VOLLEY, the ball flew 35 feet up in the air before coming crashing down into the net as Amelia scrambled back in vain. INCREDIBLE GOAL. Biagianti dribbled into the box and cut back for substitute Paolucci to tap in Catania's fourth.

Attendance : 21,287
Red Card : Bresciano 16 (Palermo)
Assists : Morimoto, Carboni, Morimoto, Biagianti


REGGINA 1 (Sestu 21)
FIORENTINA 1 (Bonazzoli 23)

Vargas failed to cut out a Cozza longball and journeyman midfielder Sestu, who has played for nine different clubs including the fabulously named Cittadella on three separate occasions, scored his first ever Serie A goal with a flashing half volley. Fiorentina were level two minutes later. Under pressure for Semioli, Cirillo lost the ball in his own penalty area, Semioli touched the ball back to Mutu, he shot towards the bottom corner and former Reggina striker Bonazzoli bundled over the line.

Attendance : 10,000
Assists : Cozza, Mutu


SAMPDORIA 2 (Cassano 33, Pazzini 51)
MILAN 1 (Pato 80)

Abbiati denied Cassano with a tremendous save from a free kick only to follow that up with a mistake from Samp's next set piece. Raggi headed on a Palombo corner, Abbiati punched Cassano's reaction header between his legs, before it rebounded off him and Jankulovski cleared. Looking at the replays the ball was over the line but it happened so quick this was a great spot by the linesman. Pazzini scored for the fifth successive game following his move from Fiorentina and it an absolute stunner. Cassano found him in with a reverse pass inside Beckham, he checked back onto his left foot, sending Bonera crashing to the ground, took one touch and as Senderos came flying in whipped the ball into the top right corner. Pato headed in his 12th goal of the season from a Favalli cross and Emerson had a headed goal disallowed from a free kick for no apparent season, well other than he's crap and no one likes him.

Pazzini has been hailed as one of the best prospects in Italian football for a number of years but has fell off a cliff since he Christened the new Wembley with a hat-trick. Samp have been crying out for a prolific striker since the glory days of the once great Vincenzo Montella.

Leonardo will replace Ancelotti on the Milan bench before the end of the season.

Attendance : 26,000
Assists : Raggi, Cassano, Favalli


SIENA 0
GENOA 0

Attendance : 14,000
Assists : n/a


UDINESE 2 (D'Agostino 75 fk, Pasquale 94)
LECCE 0

D'Agostino, who has fell away after a brilliant start to the season, came off the bench to give Udinese the lead with a fantastic left footed free kick. Ariatti pushed over Sanchez then stamped on him, earning himself a deserved red card. Sanchez was later substituted and his replacement Pasquale tapped in an injury time second after Benussi saved then fumbled a deflected shot.

Attendance : 12,000
Red Card : Ariatti 78 (Lecce)
Assists : Sanchez (won fk), n/a


INTER 3 (Balotelli 50, Balotelli 62 Pen, Crespo 80)
ROMA 3 (De Rossi 23, Riise 29, Brighi 57)

Despite the fact that both teams were missing their inspirational players, Ibrahimovic and Totti respectively, this was a surprisingly open game. Two future Italy internationals came head to head for the opening goal. Motta, who an absolute nobody at Udinese, turned inside Santon with his right foot then swung a left foot cross to the back post for De Rossi to head past Julio Cesar. The Brazilian goalkeeper was at fault for Inter's second. Panucci hit a longball upto Riise on Inter's right flank, he got the better of Maicon, Julio Cesar left his near post unguarded to close the angle, with three defenders covering, and Riise hooked the ball between his legs and into the bottom corner. Cordoba's perfectly timed sliding tackle prevented Vucinic from sending Roma into a three goal half time lead.

Mourinho's half time introduction of Vieira and Figo allowed Inter to get a grip on midfield. Super Mario Balotelli, who is far more effective than Adriano, combined with the big goofball to pull Inter within a goal of Roma. Adriano held up a longball then rolling a pass across goal which the youngster despatched first time past Doni. Midfield lightweight Cambiasso got too tight on Baptista, allowing him to turn onto a pass, though he has an abysmal first so the ball broke loose, Brighi outpaced Zanetti and his Brazilian team-mate before firing low into the corner. That should have been it but Balotelli dived under De Rossi's stupid challenge to win a penalty. Shortly after missing an absolute sitter Vucinic cramped up and made way for Menez who spend his 20 minutes diving. Mourinho's final substitute, Crespo, proved more effective. He scored with his first touch, meeting Figo's cross with a bullet header. Surprisingly Roma finished stronger. Riise forced a save with a stinging drive from a free kick and having got free of Maicon De Rossi choked in front of goal, screwing his effort 10 years wide of the right post.

Attendance : 51,497
Assists : Motta, Panucci, Adriano, Baptista, Balotelli (won pen), Figo


28 February 2009

LAZIO 2 (Zarate 36 fk, 81)
BOLOGNA 0

Zarate ended his two month goal drought with an excellent brace. His first was a right footed free kick which left Antonioli rooted to the spot as it sailed over the Bologna wall before nestling inside the bottom right corner. His second came late on the break. Rocchi played him in with a great reverse pass inside three defenders and as Antonioli came off his line Zarate lobbed into an empty net.

Attendance : 30,000
Assists : Foggia (won fk), Rocchi


JUVENTUS 1 (Blasi 44 og)
NAPOLI 0

Attendance : 20,700
Assists : n/a