VERONA STUN JUVE, LAZIO CLOSE THE GAP

Verona ensure their Serie A status with a fine victory over Champions elect
Juventus while victory means Lazio close the gap to just two points. Roma
and Parma can only manage goal-less draws while both Milan clubs win as the
race for the Champions League places takes another twist.

30 APRIL 2000

BARI				0-0			ROMA

Bari had the best chances but this was pretty un-eventful. Rai usually
don't waste much time on highlights from goal-less draws but they're marks
for Cassano so they made us endure over 5 minutes of crap.

Attendance : 20,000


CAGLIARI			2-2			BOLOGNA
Mboma 25 (Pen)						Paramatti 15
Dal Canto 38 (og)					Signori 67

Pagliuca got back to make a fantastic save from Berretta after a hospital
pass gave him an open goal. Paramatti headed Bologna in the lead from
Signori's corner. Berretta threw himself down in the box but this wasn't one
of those cheap dives in the Inzaghi class it was a masterpiece, Berretta
going down in such a manner that it seemed certain he was fouled. Mboma
converted and Del Canto brilliantly flicked the ball past his own 'keeper to
give Cagliari the lead. Signori equalised with a free kick but wasted a great
chance late in the match.


Attendance : 20,000


FIORENTINA			3-0			LECCE
Tarozzi 41
Chiesa 43
Batistuta 82

Fiorentina wasted four excellent chances before Tarozzi finally gave them
the lead when heading in Rui Costa's cross, Chimenti was nowhere. Another
howler from Chimenti put Fiorentina further in-front as he completely
misjudged Chiesa's cross. Batistuta violently put the finish on a nice
move involving Torricelli, Rui Costa and Bressan.

Attendance : 32,000


LAZIO				3-2			VENEZIA
Simeone 38						Pedone 58
S Inzaghi 46						Ganz 93
Maniero 83 (og)

Brioschi made a great save to keep out Mancini's overhead kick with Benussi
(Venezia's 'keeper) stranded off his goal-line. I can only assume the ref
blew up for a foul on the 'keeper. Simeone gave Lazio the lead with a
spectacular diving header, Pancaro with the cross. Another criminal mistake 
by Benussi gave Mancini an open goal but he unselfishly centered for Inzaghi.
The scoreboard flashed up Verona 2-0 Juventus and the home fans went nuts
but the players seemed to loose their concentration - Pedone pulled one
back, volleying in Maldonado's cross. Maniero headed Mihajlovic's cross past
his own 'keeper, Maldonado's cleared a shot off his goal-line with Benussi
once again nowhere. Ganz tucked away an excellent pass from Nanami.

Attendance : 60,000


MILAN				1-0			PIACENZA
Ambrosini 15

Ambrosini headed in Leonardo's corner. A combination of crap finishing and
great goalkeeping denied Leonardo a goal. West missed a sitter from a corner
but gave a fine display in central defence. Shevchenko headed straight at
Roma from Leonardo's cross and Jose Mari also went close from a header.
Zitolo was sent off for bringing down Shevchenko. Shevchenko, Jose Mari and
Leonardo linked up very well. Milan's dodgy defence was rarely troubled.

Red Cards : Zitolo 89 (Piacenza)
Attendance :  50,000


PARMA				0-0			UDINESE

Di Vaio ran onto a longball, sent Zanchi crashing onto his arse and with
only the 'keeper to beat managed to shoot wide. Turci made an excellent save
from a Stanic header and Di Vaio wasted another great chance after going
round Turci but shot wide.

Attendance : 20,000


PERUGIA				1-2			INTER
Amoruso 77						Seedorf 28
							Recoba 65

Amoruso cracked one off (!) the crossbar, Alenitchev with a great pass.
Baggio passed to Seedorf about 20yds from goal, he humiliated Perrotta
with a fantastic feint before slotting past Mazzantini. Mazzantini then made
a great save to keep out Recoba's fierce drive but was helpless minutes later
when Recoba went past, through and around five players before whipping the
ball past Mazzantini. Awesome, awesome, awesome goal. Amoruso pulled one
back from Rapajc's centre. Rapajc struck the outside of the post and Recoba
wasted an opening created by Baggio. 

Attendance : 15,000

TORINO				2-1			REGGINA
Galante 33						Kallon 75 (Pen)
Ferrante 82

Ivic got his head to a long cross, the ball bounced in the air and before he
could shoot Galante took over and fired past Taibi. Kallon converted a twice
taken penalty won by Possanzini. Reggi shot straight at Bucci when clean
through. Ferrante won the match with one of the most outrageous free kicks
you are likely to see, chipping the ball in off the post, similar to the
penalty that won the European Championships for the Czech Republic
in 1976! One of the best 3 goals scored in Serie A this season. I will be
amazed if Ferrante is at Torino next season regardless of whether they are
relegated and his overall play this season has been far superior to that of
Delvecchio, Inzaghi or Del Piero which of course guarantees he won't
make Italy's Euro 2000 squad.

Red Card : Baronio 85 (Reggina)
Attendance : 21,000


VERONA				2-0			JUVENTUS
Cammarata 45, 56

Van der Sar spilled Brocchi's shot, Cammarata was first to react but hit the
inside of the post from a tight angle and Davids cleared. A fantastic first
touch allowed Cammarata to turn Iuliano and shoot past Van der Sar. After
missing 3 great chances early in the second half Verona added a second, 
Cammarata tapping in Melis' centre. Falsini dragged a shot inches wide of
the post. 

Juve NEVER troubled Frey. Verona played the type of football you expect
to see from the Champions of Serie A, they were so much better than Juve it
was downright embarrassing.

Attendance : 32,800