ROMA CHOKE

A late penalty from Totti isn't enough to deny Milan three points and blows
the title race wide open. Zoff continues the Lazio revival as the defending
champions defeat Inter. The only other top of the table clash, between
Atalanta and Fiorentina, ends goal-less. Not many goals but plenty of World
Class saves.


21 JANUARY 2001

MILAN				3-2			ROMA
Leonardo 2						Totti 41, 86 (Pen)
Shevchenko 21, 44

Leonardo opened the scoring with a stunning free kick. Roma's offside trap
gifted Milan their second. Albertini released Shevchenko, Cafu stuck his hand
up appealing for offside, Zago looked on in disbelief and Shevchenko rounded
Lupatelli to tap into an empty net. Shevchenko missed an open goal. Totti
gave Roma hope with a great shot from 20yds. Serginho's cross took a
deflection off Cafu and Shevchenko arrived at the back post to restore
Milan's two goal lead.

Leonardo went close with another free kick. Albertini pressed(!) Cafu into a
mistake, Leonardo flicked the ball over Samuel and then laid on a perfect
pass to Shevchenko who once again missed an open goal. Abbiati made the
save of the day, which is no mean feat, with a phenomenal one handed stop
on Batistuta's free kick. Roma were awarded a penalty following a clumsy
challenge on Batistuta by Roque Junior. Abbiati got a touch to Totti's
penalty but not enough to keep the ball out.

Once again Zaccheroni saves his job with a victory against the odds.
 
Attendance : 61,688
Assists : Jose Mari, Albertini, Batistuta (x2)


ATALANTA			0-0			FIORENTINA

Two brilliant saves from Pelizzoli and two claims for handball by the home.

Attendance : 24,000


BARI				2-1			REGGINA
Innocenti 37						Cozza 27
Andersson 79 (Pen)


Taibi made great saves from Osmanovski and Cassano, Enyinnaya headed wide
when unmarked in front of goal. Reggina then took the lead. Marrazina headed
a ball across goal and Cozza headed past Gillet. Cassano flicked on a cross,
Innocenti was fouled in the box by Nocerino but stayed on his feet to draw
Bari level. Enyinnaya ran into the back of Morabito, threw himself to the
ground, penalty. Andersson converted. Minutes later Marrazina blew a glorious
chance to equalise.

Attendance : 10,799
Assists : Marrazina, Cassano, Enyinnaya


NAPOLI				0-1			UDINESE
							Sosa 68

Sterchele made a fantastic save to keep out a fierce effort from Edmundo.
The Brazilian then released Pecchia with a beautiful reverse pass, with
the Udinese defence so high up the pitch Pecchia had a clear run on goal
but stupidly decided to shoot early and missed an empty net. Sosa won the
match with a ridiculously powerful header from Fiore's cross. Amoroso
blazed over the bar from close range. Moriero went close with a free kick
and had a spectacular volley cleared off the line.

Attendance : 50,000
Assist : Fiore


PARMA				1-1			LECCE
Milosevic 53						Lucarelli 95

Parma finally took the lead when Milosevic headed in Conceicao's cross.
Junior would have increased Parma's lead but for an incredible save by
Chimenti. He came to the rescue again with a feet first block on Di Vaio.
Deep into injury time (maybe in the fifth minute) Buffon threw away the
points. Ingesson headed on a cross, Buffon came off his line and basically
did a star jump allowing Lucarelli to head into an empty net. Really
cruel on Parma.
 
Attendance : 16,000
Assist : Conceicao


PERUGIA				0-1			JUVENTUS
							Inzaghi 58

Van der Sar was called into action first, saving from Vryzas. Mazzantini took
over. A point blank save from Trezeguet, two spectacular one handed diving
saves from a Zidane free kick and Inzaghi. 

Montero threw up at the start of the second half and we were treated to a
slow motion action replay. Lovely. Ahn blew a great chance when shooting
straight at Van der Sar. Zidane took out Materazzi, who along with Mazzantini
was repelling all of Juve's attacks, with a cynical challenge when going for
a 50-50 ball. While Materazzi was getting treatment Juve scored. Trezeguet
fed Davids who ran through two challenges before slipping the ball to Inzaghi
and this time Mazzantini was helpless. Perugia should have been awarded a
penalty for handball. Mazzantini made another miracle save to prevent Conte
from scoring what would have been the goal of the season, a dipping half
volley from 25yds.

Attendance : 20,000
Assist : Davids


VICENZA				1-1			BRESCIA
Zauli 48							Hubner 4

Emanuel Filippini carried the ball from the half way line, held off a defender
and split the defence with a great pass to Springsteen, 0-1. Castellazi (on
for Srnicek) punted the ball downfield, Aurelio watched it bounce over
his head but recovered to put off Turkylmaz as he shot for goal. Zauli was
credited with the equaliser but Calori definitely beat him to Toni's header.
Sterchele made a great save late on from Bachini (on loan from Juve). Brescia
should have been awarded a penalty for handball by Cardone. Still not sure
why Baggio isn't playing but Brescia should have left with the points.

Attendance : 6,000
Red Card : Dicara 67 (Vicenza)
Assist : E Filippini


20 JANUARY 2001

BOLOGNA			1-0			VERONA
Locatelli 5

Not for the first time a Locatelli slalom special won the match. He beat 
three players before curling the ball past Ferron. Both teams wasted chances.
 
Attendance : 23,000


LAZIO				2-0			INTER
Crespo 4
Salas 75 (Pen)

Simic headed Nedved's cross straight to Crespo and he volleyed past Frey.
Peruzzi had a good game against his former team, making a great save from
Recoba and bravely coming off his line to punch out a cross with Vieri
bearing down on him though it appeared as if Couto handled Seedorf's effort
from the rebound. Salas converted a penalty won by Poborsky (dive). Frey
made a phenomenal save from Salas. Lots of circus tricks from Veron in this
match.

Maximum points for Zoff. With him in charge Lazio are still in with a chance
of retaining their title.

Attendance : 50,000
Assist : Poborsky