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EPL Round 38 - Match Reports

Tue, 13 May 2008 02:08:08 +0100

11 May 2008

BIRMINGHAM 4 (Murphy 31, Jerome 73, Jerome 89, Muamba 93)
BLACKBURN 1 (Pedersen 49)

Similar heartbreak for Birmingham who needed both Reading and Fulham to slip up to stay up themselves. They were ahead at half time as David Murphy solo run and shot somehow beat Brad Friedel from 25 yards however Morten Gamst Pedersen levelled early in the second half after Jason Roberts and Roque Santa Cruz had chances. Birmingham found a late goal blitz to win the game but by the time Cameron Jerome's well controlled volley from Sebastien Larsson's cross found the net, the score at Derby was heavily against them. Jerome had missed an open goal shortly before finding the net and he added a second late on with a cool finish from Gary McSheffrey's pass. Mehdi Nafti's cross set up Fabrice Muamba to send a looping header into the net but the damage had been done elsewhere by then.

Attendance : 26,668
Assists : Forsell, Santa Cruz, Larsson, McSheffrey, Nafti

CHELSEA 1 (Shevchenko 62)
BOLTON 1 (Taylor 93)

Chelsea could only draw at home to Bolton but the result at the JJB ultimately made it irrelevant. They were never on top form although with United only one up, Chelsea did have hope when Andriy Shevchenko bobbled in Florent Malouda's half hit shot. Bolton denied Chelsea a last day victory when a corner was only cleared to Matt Taylor whose shot went under Petr Cech and in. Had Chelsea won this won and not conceded a last gasp equaliser at home to Wigan a few weeks ago then they may well have won the title.

Attendance : 41,755
Assists : Lampard, n/a

DERBY 0
READING 4 (Harper 15, Kitson 61, Doyle 69, Lita 91)

Reading crushed bottom club Derby but are relegated on goal difference. They were three up and staying up before the Fulham goal at Portsmouth as James Harper curled in a beauty after Dave Kitson set him up and then Kitson himself slid in the second when Leroy Lita pounced after Nicky Shorey's shot was saved. Kevin Doyle added a third after his initial cross was blocked he someone rolled the ball in at the near post despite being on the floor however by the time Lita headed in Stephen Hunt's cross, Reading were already down.

Attendance : 33,087
Assists : Kitson, Lita, n/a, Hunt

EVERTON 3 (Yakubu 28, Lescott 70, Yakubu 82 Pen)
NEWCASTLE 1 (Owen 47 Pen)

Everton qualify for the UEFA Cup with a comfortable win against Newcastle. Yakubu's firm header from Manuel Fernandes' free kick put them ahead although a weak Michael Owen penalty put Newcastle level after Charles N'Zogbia had been clattered in the area by Joseph Yobo. Everton regained the lead when a cross from Fernandes skimmed the head of a defender and was volleyed in at the far post by Joleon Lescott. The win was wrapped up late on when a fine run by Leon Osman was halted by Steven Taylor and Yakubu stroked home Everton's first penalty of the season.

Attendance : 39,592
Assists : Fernandes, N'Zogbia (won pen), n/a, Osman

MIDDLESBROUGH 8 (Downing 16 Pen, Alves 37, Downing 58, Alves 60, Ball 70 og, Rochemback 80, Aliadiere 85, Alves 90)
MANCHESTER CITY 1 (Elano 87)

Middlesbrough ended their disappointing season with a crushing win against Man City. It began badly for City when Richard Dunne was sent off for clipping the heels on Tuncay as he burst through and Stuart Downing began the rout with a clinical penalty. Afonso Alves doubled the lead before half time with a equally assured finish from Fabio Rochemback's pass. After the break Boro went into overdrive as Downing struck a brilliant volley with the outside of his foot after George Boateng's cross wasn't cleared and two minutes later Alves also netted his second having been sent clear by Julio Arca although the keeper did get a block on it, the ball just had enough pace to bobble in. Sub Adam Johnson added a fifth with a deflected effort after a good run to the edge of the area before a sensationally well hit free kick from 30 yards from Rochemback almost took the net off! Had Cristiano Ronaldo scored it, we'd be raving about it for weeks. Another soon followed as Rochemback set up Jeremie Aliadiere to slide in number seven before a solo run and excellent shot from Elano gave small consolation for City. Fittingly Boro had the last say as Alves completed his hat trick with a comfortable finish after Aliadiere set him up. Amazingly it was the first time in the league this season that Boro had scored more than TWO and the first time any Prem club had netted more than seven in a league game this season.

Attendance : 27,613
Red Card : Dunne 15 (Manchester City)
Assists : Tuncay (won pen), Rochemback, n/a, Arca, n/a, Boateng (won fk), Downing, Ireland, Aliadiere

PORTSMOUTH 0
FULHAM 1 (Murphy 76)

Fulham capped a sensational turnaround in fortunes with their fourth win in their last five games to avoid the drop on goal difference. Having not won away in 32 games, this was their third road-win on the bounce as cup finalists Portsmouth slumped to defeat. The only goal came late on as Danny Murphy headed in Jimmy Bullard's free kick and it proved vital as results elsewhere would have sent Fulham down.

Attendance : 20,532
Assist : Bullard (fk)

SUNDERLAND 0
ARSENAL 1 (Walcott 24)

Arsenal ended their campaign in third with a win at Sunderland. Gilberto sent Theo Walcott clear on goal to slot in the winner midway through the first half.

Attendance : 47,802
Assists : Gilberto Silva

TOTTENHAM 0
LIVERPOOL 2 (Voronin 69, Torres 74)

Liverpool, like Arsenal, will have to qualify for the Champions League group stages with a fourth place finish. They ended their season with a win at Spurs whose own seasons has been full of goals yet ultimately hugely disappointing had it not been for Carling Cup success. Liverpool went ahead as Fernando Torres headed the ball on for Andriy Voronin to show good control before clipping past the keeper. Torres netted the second himself as he collected a pass from Yossi Benayoun, twisted the defender all ways in the area before prodding in from a tight angle.

Attendance : 36,063
Assists : Torres, Benayoun

WEST HAM 2 (Solano 8, Ashton 88)
ASTON VILLA 2 (Young 14, Barry 58)

Thanks to Everton's victory, Aston Villa will have to be content with the InterToto route into Europe and ended their season with a draw at West Ham. The hosts went ahead with Nol Solano's 20 yard free kick which seemed to go right through the keeper however Villa levelled when Nigel Reo-Coker set up Ashley Young to send a measured finish inside the far post. Gareth Barry may be leaving Villa Park in the summer but he signed off with a goal as he volleyed in after Reo-Coker's shot was saved. The Hammers grabbed a late point when Mark Noble found Dean Ashton who hammered a shot in from the edge of the area.

Attendance : 34,969
Assists : Ferdinand (fk), Reo-Coker, n/a, n/a

WIGAN 0
MANCHESTER UNITED 2 (Ronaldo 33 Pen, Giggs 80)

Man United retained their title with a comfortable win at Wigan. United were a little lucky in the first half not to go down to ten men as Paul Scholes, having already been booked, blocked off Wilson Palacios on what would have been a yellow card on any other day. The ref bottled it and let him off with a lecture. A disputed penalty put United ahead as Wayne Rooney went down under a challenge from Emmerson Boyce and Cristiano Ronaldo ended a stunning season personally with a clinical spot kick. Wigan rarely looked threatening and United clinched it late on when Rooney set up Ryan Giggs to slot in the second on the day that he equalled United's all time appearance record held by Bobby Charlton. United are worthy champions and the table doesn't lie. Their defence has been tight, their attack awesome and they still have the Champions League Final ahead of them as do Chelsea of course.

Attendance : 25,133
Assists : Rooney (won pen), Rooney

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Serie A Round 37 - Match Reports

Mon, 12 May 2008 01:56:15 +0100

11 May 2008

FIORENTINA 3 (Santana 39, Semioli 77, Osvaldo 85)
PARMA 1 (Budan 11)

Fiorentina were defending a cross. Christian Lucarelli brushed his elbow against his marker who theatrically screamed clutching his face (pussy) leaving the unmarked Budan to head in Coly's deflected cross. Montolivo
caught Coly ball watching as he looked odds on to clear a loose ball, he dribbled his way into the box before centring for Santana to equalise. Semioli put Fiorentina in front with a rare headed goal and Osvaldo, who has inexplicably been dropped in favour of donkey Vieri in recent weeks (unless he's been injured) stretched to volley in the third from a Jorgensen free kick.

Attendance : 36,000
Red Card : Rossi 80 (Parma)
Assists : n/a, Montolivo, Jorgensen, Jorgensen (fk)

GENOA 0
LAZIO 2 (Pandev 32, Rocchi 47)

With his back to goal Mauri back heel volleyed a throw in over his head towards Rocchi and he held up the ball for Pandev to score his 14th goal of the season. Genoese hands went up for offside when Mutarelli sent Behrami down the right and he dribbled into the box before centring for Rocchi to score Lazio's second.

Attendance : 25,000
Assists : Rocchi, Behrami

INTER 2 (Vieira 11, Balotelli 45)
SIENA 2 (Maccarone 30, Kharja 69)

Inter's scudetto celebrations began on 11 minutes after Vieira headed the reigning champions into the lead from a Balotelli corner. Former Milan youth team product Massimo Maccarone stunned the hosts with an equaliser, gathering Kharja's pass and beating the exposed Julio Cesar with a low shot under his body. Balotelli settled Inter's nerves on the stoke of half time, heading in at the back post after Vieira flicked on Maicon's throw in. Shortly after Siena succeeded in kicking Balotelli out of the game Kharja equalised, expertly placing Burdisso's hurried clearance beyond Julio Cesar. Rigano sacked Materazzi to concede a 79th minute penalty. Italy's World Cup hero took the penalty himself but his spot kick was brilliantly saved by Manninger. Mancini revealed after the match Materazzi was third choice after Cruz and Balotelli.

Siena players took turns to kick Balotelli, a common Serie A tactic against star players. None of the challenges in themselves warranted a red card but the league need to clamp down on systematic, targeted fouling. Something drastic like a stadium ban for a team that reaches a three kick count on a single player.

Attendance : 80,000
Assists : Balotelli (ck), Kharja, Vieira, n/a

JUVENTUS 1 (Del Piero 89)
CATANIA 1 (Martinez 48)

Martinez gave Catania the lead early in the second half, getting the last touch to the ball after Buffon fumbled a corner. Chiellini played a one-two with Camoranesi before whipped a cross to the back post and Del Piero pounced to volley in the equaliser.

Attendance : 21,000
Assists : n/a, Chiellini

LIVORNO 0
TORINO 1 (Rosina 41)

Rosina looked offside as he tapped the ball into the net after Amelia saved from Di Michele. Harsh on Livorno who are relegated as a result.

Attendance : 6,000
Assist : n/a

NAPOLI 3 (Hamsik 36, Domizzi 69 Pen, Garics 92)
MILAN 1 (Seedorf 94)

Hamsik gave Napoli the lead with sensational goal. He broke his own half when Napoli when defending a corner, ran the length of the pitch, turned Kaladze inside out as he brought the ball onto his left foot and slotted past Kalac. Milan rallied briefly, drawing good saves from Napoli's 23 year old reserve goalkeeper Navarro. Kaka' missed a great chance to equalise early in the second half. Nesta fouled Lavezzi as he broke into the box to concede a penalty. Domizzi smashed the ball past Kalac and the other end Pato missed a chance to reduce the deficit. Napoli hit the woodwork twice in quick succession before Hamsik destroyed Kaladze once more, this time drawing him out to the left flank, and swung a low centre for Garics to score the third. Serginho, hopefully in his last match for Milan, touched back a free kick for Seedorf to score a late consolation goal.

Attendance : 60,000
Assists : n/a, Lavezzi (won pen), Hamsik, Serginho (fk)

PALERMO 0
SAMPDORIA 2 (Cassano 61, Maggio 76)

Cassano gave Sampdoria the lead with a magnificent free kick, curled perfectly into the top left corner of Agliardi's goal. Full-back Maggio, who has been playing on the right side of midfield, scored his 8th goal of a very impressive season from a corner.

Attendance : 24,000
Assists : Sammarco (won fk), Palombo

REGGINA 2 (Barreto 68, Amoruso 79)
EMPOLI 0

Barreto broke the deadlock with a stunning shot from 35 yards which arched over Bassi before dropping under the crossbar. Amoruso completed Reggina's annual escape act by cutting inside a demoralised Empoli defence and slotting into the bottom left corner.

Attendance : 25,000
Assists : n/a, Vigiani

ROMA 2 (Panucci 23, De Rossi 68)
ATALANTA 1 (Bellini 88)

For the second successive week Panucci headed Roma into the lead from a Pizarro set piece. De Rossi made it 2-0 with a splendid free kick. Cristiano Doni found Pellegrini with a fabulous crossfield pass, he headed across goal, Doni ran off his line and fell over Bellini as he scored.

Doni is potentially the worst goalkeeper to ever play for a scudetto winning side.

Attendance : 37,000
Assists : Pizarro (fk), De Rossi (won fk), Pellegrini

UDINESE 0
CAGLIARI 2 (Acquafresca 48, Cossu 55)

Acquafresca beat Udinese's centre backs to a long ball out of defence before slotting past the advancing Handanovic. Cossu nonchalantly skipped over a sliding tackle as he collected a pass from Foggia and fired thorough the arms of Udinese's goalkeeper.

Attendance : 14,000
Assists : Cossu, Foggia

SCUDETTO

Roma (A) must beat Catania and hope Inter (A) fail to beat Parma

Inter retain if they beat Parma. A draw will be enough if Roma fail to beat Catania

4th CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLACE

Fiorentina (A) claim 4th spot if they beat Torino. A draw is enough if Milan (H) fail to beat Udinese

Milan must beat Udinese and hope Fiorentina fail to beat Torino

RELEGATION

Empoli (H) will retain their Serie A status if they beat Livorno and Catania (H) lose to Roma due to their superior head to head against Catania (Catania 1-0 Empoli, Empoli 2-0 Catania)

Parma (H) must beat Inter and hope Catania lose to Roma

Catania will be safe if they match Parma and Empoli's results. A win guarantees survival.

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