Lazio thrash Inter in an 9 goal thriller. Fiorentina are hit by two late goals as
9 man Roma come back from a goal down against 10 man Fiorentina. Sampdoria
are plunged deeper into crisis following a 4-1 mauling at Piacenza and Cagliari
triumph over Milan in a dramatic match. 7 red cards in 9 games.
17 October 1998
EMPOLI 0-0 BOLOGNA
Anderson saw his header crash a header off the underside of the bar
and onto the goal-line. Bologna also hit the post.
Attendance : 9,000
PARMA 2-0 SALERNITANA
Chiesa 72
Fuser 81
Chiesa played a one-two with Crespo, ran into the box and curled the ball past
the 'keeper. Fuser made it 2-0 with a shot from a tight angle. Parma look a lot
better without the eternally hopeless Asprilla screwing up in attack.
Attendance : 22,000
ROMA 2-1 FIORENTINA
Alenitchev 89 Batistuta 31
Totti 93
Batistuta ran onto a long pass from Padalino? and chipped the 'keeper. Bartelt
came on as sub and turned the game in Roma's favour, surrounded by a glut of
Fiorentina players in the box he skipped and turned before laying on an inch
perfect cross for Alenitchev. Minutes later he repeated the trick, Toldo spilled
the ball and Totti was on hand to slam home the rebound. From what I could
tell all the red cards were harsh.
Red Card(s) : Di Biagio 57 (Roma), Candela 62 (Roma), Falcone 63 (Fiorentina)
Attendance : 60,500
18 October 1998
BARI 1-1 UDINESE
Spinesi 93 Pierini 68
Pierini poked in Pineda's free kick. Spinesi grabbed a last minute equaliser.
Bertotto was dismissed for a nothing tackle. Spinesi headed in Bressan's cross
to salvage a point, they deserved all three.
Red Card(s) : Bertotto 83 (Udinese)
Attendance : 17,000
CAGLIARI 1-0 MILAN
De Patre 19
An all too familiar defensive blunder gifted Cagliari 3 points. Lehmann came out
to claim a cross, missed the ball, N'Gotty weakly headed out the ball and
De Patre was left with an open goal. Muzzi then won a penalty with one of those
run after the ball and dive over the 'keeper tricks that are plaguing the game.
For some reason the ref didn't send off Lehmann but Zac put him out of his misery
and substituted him for Rossi who saved the spot kick. Weah was denied a certain
goal thanks to a fabulous save by Scarpi, Bierhoff smacked a half volley off the
post. Nyathi made a balls up of a routine clearance and Bierhoff took a dive over
his outstretched legs. Justice was served again as Scarpi saved the penalty.
Cagliari sat back in the second half. Milan had the possession but rarely
threatened. Scarpi pulled off a Hollywood save late in the game from a stunning
Maldini strike.
It looks like Lehmann will be relegated to Italian Cup matches and once again
Rossi will be used as the stop gap solution until Milan find another 'keeper.
I was heavily critical of Rossi during the 1996-1997 season but it has to be said
since then he has saved Milan on numerous occasions. Milan should stick with
him until they sign a true World Class 'keeper, Bosnich would be ideal. Ambrosini
was again very impressive and given time should make the defensive midfield
position his own. Other than a bitch slap of a header, N'Gotty played a near
faultless game. Ziege showed some signs of improvement but his crosses lack
pinpoint accuracy. Ganz is totally lost in a three man attack once Sevchenko
arrives he's history. Zanoncelli and Scarpi were outstanding for Cagliari. Muzzi
deserved a goal for his hard running. Despite the result this was a great game.
Attendance : 25,000
PERUGIA 1-0 VENEZIA
Olive 43
Olive headed in Ze Maria's perfect cross.
Attendance : 17,000
PIACENZA 4-1 SAMPDORIA
Vierchowod 2 Ortega 28 (pen)
S Inzaghi 42 (pen)
Manighetti 72
Rastelli 86
Old man Vierchowod scored from Manighetti's cross. Palmieri made the most from
a bit of shirt tugging, the spineless coward Collina awarded a penalty and Ortega
converted. Inzaghi was then booked for diving but when he threw himself over
the keeper he won a penalty and converted himself. Ferron punched out a cross
which Manighetti returned with interest with a brilliant volley. Rastelli chipped
Ferron to complete the scoring. Ortega hit the post and crossbar. Sampdoria's
policy of selling of their best talent may finally come back to haunt them, frankly
I won't miss them if they get relegated to Serie B. Tight bastards.
Attendance : 11,000
VICENZA 1-1 JUVENTUS
Zauli 40 Del Piero 45
Zauli lashed in a loose ball. Zidane chipped the ball to the far post, Inzaghi headed
the ball back accross goal and Del Piero scored with a superb half volley. Birindelli
was sent off for a clumsy challenge.
Red Card(s) : Birindelli 68 (Juventus)
Attendance : 18,837
INTER 3-5 LAZIO
Winter 21 Salas 1
Ventola 76, 96 Conceicao 35, 52
Mancini 40
Nedved 74
Salas 'headed' in a Mihajlovic free kick but looking at the replay he made no
contact. Salas went off injured after Milanese slid in with a tackle. Inter's
equaliser was a beauty, Bergomi with a long pass, Zamorano laid the ball off
for Winter to lash a first time shot into the top left corner. A hilarious
celebration followed. Conceicao headed Lazio back in front from Mihajlovic's
corner. Mancini made it 1-3, running onto a punt by Favalli and volleying past
Pagliuca as Inter were looking for a non existent offside. Simeone was sent off
for stamping on Couto. Nedved surged into the box and laid on a cross, Baronio
let the ball run through his legs and Conceicao worked himself an opening before
firing past Pagliuca, 1-4. Baronio picked out Nedved with a right wing cross and
he was left with an easy half volley due to a curiously static Inter defence.
Ventola restored some pride with two late goals, the first a great first time
strike from Djorkaeff's pass and the second a tap-in from Zamorano's knock
down. Not sure why Nedved was sent off.
Red Card(s) : Simeone 47 (Inter), Nedved 94 (Lazio)
Attendance : 70,000
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