19 December 2010
LAZIO 3 (Hernanes 2, Biava 51, Zapata 88 og)
UDINESE 2 (Sanchez 49, Denis 61)
Mauri blocked a square pass and the ball broke to Rocchi who deliberately ran into a wall of defenders before laying the ball off to Hernanes who beat Handanovic with a slow-motion grasscutter. Lazio's finishing was woeful. They should have went in at least 3 goals up at half time. Their defence switched off to allow midget Sanchez to score a headed equaliser. ? headed down a corner and Biava swivelled to volley the Biancocelesti back in front. Napoli reject Denis equalised with a looping header over Muslera, who was standing crouched yards off his line. That's two shocking games from the Uruguayan. 21 year old Czech striker Kozak headed in the winner following a sustained period of Lazio pressure thought the goal has been credited as a Zapata og as it took a slight deflection. This of course makes no sense as deflections from long range are credited to the player who had the initial effort but close range deflections are ogs?
Very important result for Lazio but Muslera is proving to be a major weak link. He cost Lazio a point last week, allowing Juve back in the race (albeit briefly) and almost cost them three points today.
Attendance : 20,000
Assists : Rocchi, Di Natale, Dias, Isla, n/a
BARI 1 (Masiello 52 Pen)
PALERMO 1 (Ilicic 47)
As Palermo games go this was rather uneventful. Ilicic 'scored' (see above about the Zapata og) with a shot that took a massive deflection off Belmonte. Goian shoved Rivas to concede the penalty.
Attendance : 15,000
Red Card : Rossi 32 (Bari)
Assists : n/a, Rivas (won pen)
CATANIA 1 (Maxi Lopez 33)
BRESCIA 0
Attendance : 11,000
Assist : n/a
CHIEVO 1 (Pellissier 93)
JUVENTUS 1 (Quagliarella 31)
Chiellini was penalised for a clumsy challenge on Moscardelli. In trying to clear a bouncing ball he kicked the Chievo striker from behind. Marcolini's awful penalty was saved by Storari. Sorensen, Juve's giant teenage defender, poked a Quagliarella back heal against the inside of the right post. From the resulting corner Pepe swung a cross into the ground, Iaquinta controlled the ball on his chest, flicked it up and attempted an overhead kick but couldn't quite take-off, the same however cannot be said for Quagliarella who went airborne as the ball spun towards him then slammed a right footed overhead kick in off the left post. A typically extravagant goal from the most spectacular goalscorers in the game.
Another Juve teenager, midfielder Giandonato, marked his first start with a red card for pulling back Constant. Iaquinta wasted a great chance to kill off Chievo when he shot Krasic's centre at Sorrentino. The Serbian playmaker was equally guilty minutes later when he ran onto a loose ball, outpaced two defender, rounded Sorrentino as he dived at the ball then with the net gaping blazed a shot against the top of the crossbar admittedly not from the best of angles. Moscardelli and Pellissier wasted good chances to equaliser as Chievo's numerical advantage finally told then in the third minute of injury time Juve, who stole three points at the death against Lazio last week, got a taste of their own medicine. Moscardelli headed Guana's crossfield pass into the box, Granoche flicked on and Pellissier struck a half volley into the bottom right corner.
Attendance : 22,819
Red Card : Giandonato 52 (Juventus)
Assist : Iaquinta, Granoche
NAPOLI 1 (Cavani 93)
LECCE 0
As you would expect Napoli dominated but Lecce will rue missing two glorious chances on the break. Piatti ran from the half way line into the box, ignored the unmarked Ofere who was pleading for a centre, dribbled past Guana then inside Maggio but as he was about to pull the trigger De Sanctis threw himself at the ball ala Superman to punch clear. Corvia took a flick on and lobbed over De Sanctis as he dived at the ball for a second time, just as the ball was about to break the goal-line, Guana made one of THE great clearances when he ran across goal and kicked the ball back into the box and to safety. Cavani powered his way through two players onto Maggio's pass, rode a tackle, turned, checked inside a Lecce defender then unleashed a stunning shot from 25 yards into the top right corner. Great goal and massive three points for Napoli.
Attendance : 30,000
Assist : n/a
PARMA 0
BOLOGNA 0
Attendance : 13,265
Assists : n/a
18 December 2010
CESENA 1 (Jimenez 17)
CAGLIARI 0
Attendance : 12,581
Assist : Giaccherini
MILAN 0
ROMA 1 (Borriello 69)
Gattuso probably played the best pass of his life, a Pirlo-esque 50 yard lobbed through ball which sent Ibrahimovic clear but he shot straight at Doni. Milan didn't get going into the second half and shortly after Nesta made a desperate last ditch tackle on Borriello the on loan striker scored against his paymasters. Menez turned on the afterburners to go past Antonini on the left, fired in a centre, the ball struck Borriello then ricocheted in off Abate. Ibrahimovic wasted the only clear cut chance Milan created in the second half. Ronaldinho, in what was probably his last appearance in a Milan shirt, came on as an 85th minute sub for Boateng. He dived in a pathetic attempt to win a penalty and was way off target with an overhead kick. He won't be missed.
Roma are this season's spoilers. They've beaten both Milan clubs and held Juve but they're still a shit side.
Attendance : 53,769
Assist : n/a