SERIE A ROUND 4
 
EAT MY GOAL!

The first of the new weekly headlines. This one is inspired by Alan Partridge.

Lecce stun Juve in the shock result of the season so far. The Reggina
fairytale continues with a home win over Piacenza. Lazio defeat Parma in
the evening match a result which leaves the UEFA Cup and Italian Cup holders
in 17th place.

25 SEPTEMBER 1999

LECCE				2-0			JUVENTUS
Lima 3
Conticchio 95

Lima headed in Traversa's cross. Piangarelli harshly had a goal disallowed
when he caught Mirkovic trying to shepard the ball back to Van der Sar,
muscled his way past and beat the Dutchman with ease. Late into injury time
Lucarelli's shot cannoned off the crossbar, Van der Sar charged out of his
goal and flapped pathetically and Conticchio coolly lobbed the rebound into
an empty net. Zidane had Juve's best chances.

Attendance : 35,017


MILAN				4-0			BOLOGNA
Weah 7
Leonardo 44
Bierhoff 54 (Pen)
Ganz 63

Bierhoff headed on Ayala's huge free kick, Weah volleyed in at the far post.
Leonardo added a second on the stroke of half time, running onto a loose
ball he rode two tackles and beat Pagliuca with ease and then threw himself
over Pagliuca's legs in the box, Bierhoff smashed in the penalty. Weah's
long  range strike too a deflection off Ganz past poor Pagliuca. I think the
last time Milan put four goals or more past Pagliuca in a league match was
back in the 1991-1992 season when Van Basten inspired Milan to a 5-1
win over Sampdoria in heavy rain.

Attendance : 52,000


26 SEPTEMBER 1999

CAGLIARI			1-1			VENEZIA
Berretta 35						Valtolina 3

Valtolina ran onto Maniero's header and beat Scarpi. Oliveira's cross was
met by Berretta.

Attendance : 16,000
Red Card(s) : Bettarini 5


REGGINA			1-0			PIACENZA
Cirillo 85

Brevi headed Pirlo's free kick across goal and Cirillo whacked the ball
though a ruck of players.

Attendance : 21,548


ROMA				3-1			PERUGIA
Montella 37						Olive 82
Assuncao 48
Totti 84 (Pen)

Mazzantini spilled Delvecchio's shot, Montella smashed in the rebound. Ripa
was sent off for a 'foul' on Totti when challenging for a ball. Assuncao
scored with a missile at the start of the second half. Totti made the most of
minimal contact to get Calori sent off. Zago had a goal disallowed for
offside. Olive beat Antonioli with a looping header from Daino's free kick
Totti converted a penalty won by Delvecchio, who had a great match. 
Cowardly refereeing and shameful theatrics from Totti.

Attendance : 56,580
Red Card(s) : Ripa 44 (Perugia), Calori 57 (Perugia)


TORINO				0-1			INTER
							Vieri 75

Pagliuca made a miraculous save to deny Ferrante from the penalty spot after
Panucci pulled down Ivic. Vieri headed in Georgatos's free kick. Inter would
have been comfortably in the lead were it not for poor finishing and great
defending. Ferrante wasted numerous half chances and Mendez was guilty
of a treacherous miss from close range late in the match. Ronaldo didn't
play.

Attendance : 40,000


UDINESE			1-1			FIORENTINA
Fiore 53							Batistuta 8

Poggi missed a penalty. Batistuta gave Fiorentina the lead with a fantastic 
flick volley from Mijatovic's cross. Fiore swept a shot through a packed 
penalty area past Toldo to give Udinese a share of the points.

Attendance : 18,000


VERONA				0-1			BARI
							Osmanovski 41

Osmanovski won the match with a header from Collauto's cross.

Attendance : 11,000


PARMA				1-2			LAZIO
Boghossian 61						Boghossian 29 (og)
							Almeyda 69

Benarrivo was strechered off early in the match following a horrific clash
of heads with Salas. An insane circus trick led Parma's first, as the Parma
defence cleared a corner Ortega bounced the ball off his chest and flicked a
back heel volley over Boksic's head, Almeyda intercepted, Salas headed on
and Boksic's cross was half cleared by a Parma player but Salas picked up
the loose ball and his shot deflected off Boghossian past Buffon. Boghossian
made amends for his earlier mistake with a headed equaliser, Amoroso
headed against the crossbar from Ortega's corner and Boghossian headed in
the rebound. Malesani then inexplicably took off Boghossian, one of the few
Parma players to make a real effort and replaced him with Breda. Almeyda
latched onto Thuram's clearance and blasted an outrageous dipping volley 
over Buffon from 30yds, awesome, awesome, awesome goal. Even if Parma
win their UEFA Cup tie this Thursday, Malesani is history.

Attendance : 21,801