DIRTY JUVE DO IT AGAIN, TORINO RELEGATED
Del Piero's strike against Parma moves Juventus to the brink of another
scudetto thanks to a controversial disallowed goal. Lazio keep their feint
title hopes alive with a thrilling victory over Bologna. Fiorentina shame
Inter with a fantastic away victory while a late penalty in Rome gives Milan
a healthy lead over their Champions League rivals. Ferrante's 16th goal of
the season isn't enough to save Torino from relegation.
7 MAY 2000
BOLOGNA 2-3 LAZIO
Signori 38, 88 Conceicao 24
Simeone 62
Salas 74
Conceicao tapped into an empty net as Pagliuca and his defence suffered
a pile up in the box. A superb first touch allowed Signori to run through the
heart of Lazio' s defence and he expertly curled the ball past Marchegiani.
Simeone volleyed in Veron's free kick and Salas headed in a deflected cross.
Signori flicked on Dal Canto's cross, dummied Couto and blasted into the
top corner. Tons of chances for Lazio in this match.
Attendance : 38,000
INTER 0-4 FIORENTINA
Chiesa 31, 46
Batistuta 69
Bressan 87
After a change of shoes Rui Costa released Chiesa with a raking pass and
with the Inter defence stood on the half way line appealing for offside
he ran though and beat Peruzzi with a fantastically placed shot. Seedorf
lost a shoe but still managed to pick out Recoba who forced a great save
from Toldo who also made a great save from a Seedorf volley.
The usually reliable Zanetti gave Batistuta a hospital pass, Peruzzi flew off
his line to close down Batistuta but the ball rebounded for Chiesa to tap
in his second. Zamorano missed a glorious chance to equalise from a corner.
Toldo made another great save from Cauet and Fiorentina cruelly added a
third, Chiesa? stole the ball off Blanc and fed Rui Costa, he centred for
Batistuta who sent Peruzzi crashing onto his arse with a serious of dummies
and to add insult to er insult former Fiorentina defender Serena diverted
Batistuta's goal bound shot in his own net. Fiorentina saved the best for
last, Bressan with a fabulous volley from Di Livio's cross.
I'll leave the analysis to Paul.
Attendance : 75,000
JUVENTUS 1-0 PARMA
Del Piero 60
Buffon saved brilliantly from Conte and Fuser cleared Montero's header off
his goal-line. Del Piero finally scored his first goal from open play,
heading in Pessotto's cross. Pessotto was then denied by Buffon, Zidane
pathetically spooning the rebound into the stands. Inzaghi missed a sitter
following great interplay between Del Piero and Zidane. Cannavaro had a goal
disallowed when Kovacevic took a dive in his own penalty area, cheating
bastard. David's smashed a shot off the crossbar and Zidane attempted a
scissor kick on the rebound but shot hopelessly wide.
Attendance : 55,000
LECCE 2-1 TORINO
Sesa 55 Ferrante 67 (Pen)
Conticchio 78
Lecce are as bad as Juve when it comes to looking for penalties, Collina
turned down appeals by Sesa and Lucarelli but didn't book either of them.
He's a good ref but a bit card shy. Galante went close with headers either
side of half time, Chimenti with an excellent save from his second effort.
Conticchio won Lecce a free kick when running straight into Mendez, Sesa
brilliantly smashed the ball low past Bucci. Ferrante equalised from the
spot, Ivic winning the penalty. Chimenti took his frustrations out on the
post, Lecce coach Cavasin was sent to the stands. It didn't matter as minutes
later Conticchio fired a shot inside the post guaranteeing Serie A football for
yo-yo club Lecce and relegating Torino to Serie B.
Red Cards : Sommese 80, Mendez 83 (Torino)
Attendance : 25,753
PIACENZA 1-1 CAGLIARI
Villa 13 (og) Suazo 8
Both teams are relegated so I'll make this quick. Suazo turned in Mboma's
centre, Villa turned Rastelli's shot past his own 'keeper.
Attendance : 4,000
REGGINA 1-1 VERONA
Bogdani 26 Cammarata 58
Frey made an outrageous save with his knee from Kallon. Bogdani arrived
unmarked at the far post to slide in Cozza's cross. Cammarata scored a
spectacular equaliser, flicking up Adailton's cross with his left foot and
then volleying a scissor kick past Taibi. If Cammarata had pace he would be
really special. He's sort of like Vialli without the pace.
Attendance : 25,060
ROMA 1-1 MILAN
Zago 10 Shevchenko 82
(Pen)
Zago gave Roma the perfect start, heading in Assuncao's free kick. Milan
looked brighter in attack without really threatening. Milan were awarded a
free kick when Bierhoff threw himself to the ground after Rinaldi touched his
shirt, nothing more than that. Shevchenko sent Antonioli the wrong way and
wasted a great chance to win the match, heading straight at Antonioli from
Gattuso's cross. Predictably there were scuffles in the stands and Totti
confronted his own fans, he must be on his way.
Attendance : 64,058
UDINESE 2-1 PERUGIA
Warley 38 Amoruso 40
Margiotta 61
Amoruso headed against the post, Sottil shot inches wide from Locatelli's
cross. Fiore punished some shocking defending and crossed for Warley to
give Udinese the lead. Amoruso timed his run to perfection as he spun around
his marker and put away Monaco's excellent through pass. Fiore again stole
a ball in defence and fed Margiotta who poked the ball past Mazzantini.
Attendance : 19,000
VENEZIA 0-1 BARI
Innocenti 77
Bari needed a win to guarantee Serie A football, relegated Venezia didn't
put up much of a fight. Cassano wasted a couple of opportunities in the first
half and N'Gotty pinched Osmanovski's face when he went looking
for a penalty! Osmanovski stole a ball in defence and centred for Innocenti
to score the winner.
Attendance : 8,043
Battle for Lo Scudetto
JUVE LAZIO
Perugia (a) Reggina (h)
It's difficult to see Juve blowing this one. Goal difference doesn't come
into so if both teams finish level on points there will be a 2 leg play-off
for the scudetto.
Battle for 2 Champions League places
MILAN INTER PARMA ROMA
Udinese (h) Cagliari (a) Lecce (h) Verona (a)
Udinese are not easy opponents but Milan are formidable at home and they only
need a point to make certain of Champions League qualification. Inter are
capable of anything, Parma shouldn't have any trouble seeing off Lecce and
Roma haven't a prayer against Verona who are the form team in Serie A but
they can still qualify if results go their way i.e. they beat Verona and Parma
and Inter lose their final matches.
|