SERIE A ROUND 1
 
Vieri scores a hat-trick as Inter impressively despatch Verona. Fiorentina
are the only other winners as the rest of the teams draw.

28 AUGUST 1999

BOLOGNA			0-0			TORINO

Bologna had the better chances, Torino came close with two free kicks.


29 AUGUST 1999

FIORENTINA			1-0			BARI
Chiesa 47

Rui Costa headed on a Di Livio cross and Chiesa poked the ball in from close
range. Andersson crashed a free kick off the post and Toldo denied Olivares
with a spectacular one handed save.

Attendance : 35,000


INTER				3-0			VERONA
Vieri 16, 53, 62

Georgatos lofted a 50yd pass upfield, Vieri controlled the ball on his chest
and beat Battistini. Another long ball pass, this time from Moriero, was 
superbly finished off by Vieri and he completed his hat-trick when finishing
off, yes you guessed it another long pass, this time from Di Biagio. Despite
the poor quality of the opposition Inter's workrate was very impressive and 
with three slap heads in the first team (Ronaldo, Georgatos and Di Biagio)
playing Inter will be confusing for opponents.

Attendance : 65,000


LECCE				2-2			MILAN
Savino 65						Weah 57
Lucarelli 81						Shevchenko 72

Weah volleyed against the post from Albertini's free kick and reacted
quickly to smash in the rebound. Savino headed in Colonello's cross with
ease as the Milan defence stood still and minutes later almost repeated the
trick but for a super save by Abbiati. Shevchenko put Milan back in the lead
when finishing off a great move, Weah crossed into the box, Bierhoff headed
across goal and Shevchenko struck the ball under the 'keepers legs. A 
terrible mistake by Albertini gifted Lecce a point, as he was busy tugging
Sesa's shirt, Sesa poked the ball to Lucarelli who drilled a low shot past
Abbiati.

Attendance : 35,000


PERUGIA				1-1			PARMA
Olive 46							Stanic 77

Buffon pathetically punched a long free kick from Daino, Olive returned it
with interest as he chipped the ball into the net. Stanic rescued a point for
the big spenders with a header from Ortega's corner. Rapajic wasted a
glorious chance late on when put clean through by Nakata. Mazzantini made
several outstanding saves to deny Parma throughout the match.

Attendance : 15,000


PIACENZA			1-1			ROMA
Stroppa 82						Totti 14 (Pen)

Lucarelli shielded the ball in his own penalty area, Cafu ran into him and
threw himself to the floor, obvious penalty according to the ref. Totti 
converted. It was one way traffic in the second half and Piacenza were
rewarded when Stroppa scored from a free kick.

Attendance : 15,000
Red Card(s) : Zago 90 (Roma)


VENEZIA				1-1			UDINESE
Maniero 71						Muzzi 54

Muzzi tapped in Jorgensen's cross. Poggi headed against the post from another
Jorgensen cross. Maniero slammed in an equaliser when the Udinese defence
failed to deal with Nanami's cross. Nanami blasted a shot against the
crossbar and Maniero was sent off for a love tap elbow to Sottil's bollocks.

Attendance : 10,083
Red Card(s) : Maniero 76 (Venezia)


JUVENTUS			1-1			REGGINA
Inzaghi 31						Kallon 47

Zidane pounced on a defensive mistake and played a fabulous through
pass to Inzaghi who comfortably beat the advancing 'keeper. Del Piero
had a goal disallowed for offside. Kallon headed in Baronio's corner. 
Oliseh struck the post twice from free kicks in each half and Kovacevic
missed a sitter as Reggina hung on for an ill deserved point.

Attendance : 20,000
Red Card(s) : Bernini 75 (Reggina)


30 August 1999

LAZIO				2-1			CAGLIARI
Veron 4							O'Neill 77
Inzaghi 63 (Pen)

Lazio took an early lead when Veron's free kick deflected off a Cagliari
player past Scarpi. Inzaghi converted a penalty won by that diving little
shit Salas. O'Neill pulled a goal back thanks to the persistence of Mboma.
Andersson wasted a great chance late on in a game in which Cagliari seemed
to dominate and were denied on several occasions by frantic defending.
Marchegiani gave away far too many rebounds in a so so performance.