15 May 2011

FIORENTINA 1 (Cerci 20)
BOLOGNA 1 (Ramirez 50)

Cerci headed in a Vargas cross to continue his impressive end to the season. Ramirez punished awful marking to headed Bologna level. Kroldrup was sent off for bringing down Di Vaio, on the angle I saw it looked a ridiculous decision. Ramirez was shown a yellow for diving and was shown another as he continued to berate the ref.

Attendance : 21,026
Red Cards : Kroldrup 54 (Fiorentina), Ramirez 78 (Bologna)
Assists : Vargas, Perez


BARI 0
LECCE 2 (Jeda 52, Masiello 80 og)

Jeda, a curious looking man, scored with, what else, a bullet header from a corner. He has to be one of the greatest ever headers of a ball under 6ft. He forced the second, and thus confirmed Lecce's Serie A status, with a low volley which tripped Masiello as he tried to clear.

Attendance : 17,000
Assists : Mesbah (ck), n/a


CATANIA 2 (Bergessio 78, Gomez 95)
ROMA 1 (Loria 14)

Loria found space in a packed penalty area and met a Totti free kick with a superb flick header. Roma's comedy goalkeeper, Doni, took two steps off his line as Lodi swung in a free kick then froze and Bergessio headed past him. Doni went up for a last minute free kick, Rosi chipped the ball up to the back post and although he connected he didn't get enough on his header. He got back in time as Catania countered but still couldn't prevent the home side from taking the three points and end Roma's slim Champions League hopes. Gomez baited Cassetti, showed him right, took the ball left and shot in off the right post as Doni dived at his feet. Great finish.

Attendance : 9,800
Assists : Totti (fk), Lodi (fk), Bergessio


CESENA 1 (Giaccherini 60)
BRESCIA 0

Attendance : 18,626
Assists : n/a


CHIEVO 0
UDINESE 2 (Isla 28, Asamoah 75)

Isla tapped in a loose ball. Pinzi played a ball square to Asamoah, he took one touch before lashing a left foot rocket into the bottom right corner, great goal.

Udinese are a point away from Champions League football. Although their head to head against Lazio is equal they have a superior goal difference which I believe is the second tiebreaker. For the sake of Serie A they had better hold onto their star players otherwise they'll go the way of Sampdoria and get eliminated before the group stages.

Attendance : 19,031
Assists : n/a, Pinzi


PARMA 1 (Giovinco 64)
JUVENTUS 0

Attendance : 17,259
Assist : Modesto


SAMPDORIA 1 (Biabiany 50)
PALERMO 2 (Miccoli 46, Pinilla 86)

Hernandez headed on Benussi's booming free kick, Ilicic passed to Miccoli with an extravagant flick volley and the lifelong Lecce supporter (he was born in one of it's provinces) steadied himself before sweeping the ball past Curci. Biabiany, who has been an absolute bust following his January move from Inter, got great height as he jumped to beat Benussi to a looping header although the 'keeper still should have saved. Pozzi had a second goal disallowed. Palermo were defending a corner, Pinilla trapped the ball on his chest and ran out of his box, he flicked the ball to the left of a defender as he made a challenge then touched the ball to his right as he vaulted over a sliding tackle, he then ran 40 yards, passed wide to Hernandez, he centred as two defenders converged and the Chilean slammed the ball into the roof of the net. Magnificent goal.

Pinilla was once on Inter's books. He's blossomed, if that's the right word given his age, into an excellent all round forward. He's quick, intelligent, good in the air and works hard. It's a bloody shame he wasn't part of Chile's World Cup squad. He could have knocked out Spain.


Sampdoria captain Palombo was in tears at full time. No blame on him or the team, their penny pinching president Riccardo Garrone is responsible.

Attendance : 24,221
Assists : Ilicic, Gastaldello, Hernandez


NAPOLI 1 (Zuniga 46)
INTER 1 (Eto'o 15)

Eto'o gave Inter the lead with a thunderous shot from 25 yards. Maicon curled a shot against a post and in the last seconds of the first half Inter's useless defence conceded from a throw in. In attempting to intercept a Maggio header, Zanetti, one title (UEFA Cup) before Calciopoli, played the ball back towards his goal, Maggio fell/was fouled as he tried to score and Zuniga bundled the ball over the line. Napoli were toothless without Cavani while Milito wasted Inter's best chances. The game petered out as both sides were content with a draw.


Attendance : 60,000
Assists : Milito, n/a


14 May 2011

LAZIO 4 (Biava 7, Rocchi 52, Hernanes 55, Hernanes 66)
GENOA 2 (Palacio 12, Floro Flores 89)

Biava headed in a corner and five minutes later Palacio slammed in a rebound after Boselli forced a save. Rocchi pulled down a 40 yard longball with his right foot then instantly nutmegged Eduardo. Classy finish. Hernanes made it 3-1 with a header, he usually scores from outside the box. He scored his second with a crisp, left foot strike from a Zarate centre. Floro Flores 'scored' from a corner after Criscito volleyed a ball against him.

Attendance : 25,000
Assists : Ledesma (ck), n/a, Ledesma, Ledesma, Zarate, Criscito


MILAN 4 (Robinho 22, Gattuso 24, Robinho 35, Seedorf 77)
CAGLIARI 1 (Cossu 38)

In the pre game bus tour of Milan, the Milan supporters held aloft a banner which read " 18 titles all on the pitch". Normal service has resumed.

Robinho began the party with a splendid solo goal. Collecting a Seedorf pass, he drifted in from the left, dribbled past three players then curled a low shot inside the right post. Gattuso scored a bizarre second. Robinho played in Pato with a glorious reverse pass, Agazzi dived at Pato's feet and pushed the ball against Seedorf, it bounced up off his shins and Gattuso scored with a reaction header. That's twice as many goals as Xabi Alonso this season for captain caveman. Robinho tapped in a third from a Pato counter attack. Nainggolan found Cossu with a great pass, he changed direction as Yepes steamed in with a sliding tackle and tapped wide of Abbiati. Robinho played a one-two with Flamini (who returned the ball with a back heal), ran towards the edge of the D, passed to Pato who waited for a split second before playing in Seedorf as he burst past two defenders and fired into the corner. Lovely goal.

The mother of all title celebrations began at full time. A stage was erected and each player walked out to high five children in all 20 club strips. Ambrosini came out last, after Allegri, and held aloft the trophy. After the trademark champagne baths another stage was erected and a giant canvas laid on the pitch. The lights dimmed and VT showing each players highlights was beamed onto the giant canvas, with laser light graphics by the side, followed by a message by, who else, Berlusconi. At this point another stage was erected and Boateng came out, dressed as Michael Jackson, and proceeded to dance and Moonwalk to Billie Jean. As several people have joked it's a good job Milan concluded the deal to sign him from Genoa before he danced otherwise his value would have went up another €10 million. More season highlights followed accompanied by Guns 'n Roses Sweet Child of Mine then finally a laser and firework show. About two hours after the final whistle it ended. Overkill yes but Milan made winning the scudetto feel very, very special. Hopefully title celebrations don't count towards financial fair play because this would have cost a fortune. The set designer should be hired for every major opening and closing ceremony in the World.

Attendance : 80,018
Assists : Seedorf, Seedorf, Pato, Nainggolan, Pato