JUVE OUT OF THE TITLE RACE

I would have posted this earlier but I didn't realise the matches had been
moved back a day until 5.30pm on Saturday!


30 MARCH 2002

JUVENTUS			1-1			LAZIO
Trezeguet 38						C Lopez 25

Choke machine Del Piero was back for Juventus. Peruzzi made a great save
from Trezeguet's fantastic right foot volley. Buffon did likewise from a
Stankovic free kick. Claudio Lopez leapt in the air high above Ferrara,
who didn't bother to jump (because he's old and crap) to head Castroman's
cross past Buffon. Trezeguet headed Del Piero's free kick against the post.
Buffon made two phenomenal point blank saves from Claudio Lopez and Fiore.
Juve then went down the other end and scored. Favalli deflected Zenoni's
cross to Trezeguet and in the box he simply doesn't miss. Lazio should
have had a penalty when Buffon pulled down Stankovic after the midfielder
stole the ball off him. Zambrotta hit a stunning 30yd drive against a
post. Trezeguet went off for Juve with what looked like a calf injury.

Even with the referees help Juve can't win. What a crying shame. Paul
Newman is finished. I told the Agnelli's re-hiring him was a mistake.
Did they listen? Did they bollocks!

Assist : Castroman


ATALANTA			1-1			PIACENZA
Comandini 46						Cardone 71

Comandini hit a pass into Zauri, Zauri sent the ball back towards
Comandini, Berretta stepped over the ball and Comandini curled it into
the corner. Brilliant goal. Cardone headed in the equaliser from
Matuzalem's free kick.

Attendance : 14,000
Assists : Zauri, Matuzalem (fk)


FIORENTINA			0-1			INTER
							Vieri 62

Vieri was back in action for Inter having missed Wednesday's friendly
match against England with an 'injury'.  The highlight of the first half
was another magnificent one handed save from Manninger on a Recoba free
kick. Toldo made a point blank save from Tarozzi following good work
by Adriano. Adriano smashed a 35yd free kick against the outside of a
post. I can't wait until one of those go in. Cordoba(!) headed on Recoba's
corner, Vieri stopped the ball with his left foot then tapped in with his
right. Nuno Gomes came on as a second half substitute for Mijatovic and
was greeted to a chorus of boos from his own fans. Manninger made another
great save late on to deny Christian Zanetti his second league goal of the
season.

Adriano will return to Inter next season to form the most physically
intimidating strike force on Earth. Barring a great World Cup, Ronaldo
is history. Problem is which club is willing to take the risk and pay
his wages?

Attendance : 22,000
Assist : Cordoba


LECCE				2-1			VENEZIA
Giacomazzi 6						Balleello 57
Chevanton 61

Vugrinec played in Giacomazzi with a superb disguised pass and he shot under
Rossi's legs. Balleello equalised with a goal from a ridiculous angle wide
on goal. The Venezia defence missed Popescu's long ball, Chevanton worked
himself an opening and shot inside the post sending Venezia into Serie B.

Attendance : 11,700
Assists : Vugrinec, Bressan, Popescu


MILAN				3-1			PARMA
Inzaghi 53, 90						Di Vaio 14
Pirlo 78

Maldini made his return to first team action after three months on the
sidelines and was at fault for Parma's goal. He flattened Sukur? on the
halfway line and Boghossian sent Di Vaio clear with a long ball over the
top, Chamot failed to bring him down he shot into the bottom corner.
De Lucia came on for the injured Taffarel. Pirlo found Jose Mari with a
superb pass, the Spanish forward turned and floated a cross to the back
post and Inzaghi headed in the equaliser. De Lucia made a brilliant double
save from Inzaghi and Laursen. Not to be outdone Abbiati, who has had a
great season, launched himself across goal to parry Di Vaio free kick.
Pirlo curled in a free kick then found Inzaghi with a magical pass,
De Lucia froze, 3-1.

18 year old De Lucia is an excellent shot stopper but he has a lot to
learn on positioning. Maldini is going to be a liability for Italy in the
summer. Of course there was no mention of his mistake in any of the match
reports and if anyone thinks it wasn't a mistake explain what he was doing
tackling a player on the half way line? I have a horrible feeling Roger
Lemerd is going to recall Boghossian.

Attendance : 55,000
Assists : Boghossian, Jose Mari, Inzaghi (fk), Pirlo


PERUGIA				2-2			CHIEVO
Bazzani 40						Corradi 22, 50
Milanese 69

Cossato helped on a long ball to Corradi, Cordoba was stranded on the
penalty spot and Corradi coolly lobbed the ball over him. Bazzani tapped
in the equaliser after Lupatelli had saved from Vryzas. Esposito sent a
cross into the box, Cordoba came out for ball but missed completely and
Corradi just beat Rezaei to  volley Chievo back in front. Chievo didn't
bother to defend Gross's free kick and Milanese headed past Lupatelli.

Cordoba's positioning is terrible.

Attendance : 15,000
Assists : Cossato, Esposito, Gross (fk)


ROMA				3-1			BOLOGNA
Montella 33						Cruz 82
Emerson 43, 53

Montella played in Batistuta and as he rounded Pagliuca he ran too far and
slipped as he shot but Montella arrived to slide the ball into an empty
net. 10 minutes later Emerson wrapped up the points with a superb volley
from Lima's high cross, brilliant goal but not a patch on his second!
Montella juggled Lima's deflected cross off his chest then hit the ball
up with his left foot to Emerson, Emerson, who was standing behind Fresi
with his back to goal, flicked the ball up and over his head then hit a
left foot volley into the bottom corner. Absolutely phenomenal goal,
a Bergkamp special. Tarantino knocked the ball into Cruz, he turned into
Tommasi and Tomic, managed to hold them off then whipped the ball inside
the post. Another fantastic goal.

Tarantino should be Italy's first choice left back for the World Cup.
He won't be he should. He's absolutely brilliant. In fact I would go as far
as to say he's the best left back in Serie A and that includes Candela.

Attendance : 60,000
Assists : Batistuta, Lima, Montella, Tarantino


UDINESE			3-2			BRESCIA
Marcos Paulo 8						Bachini 17
Sosa 14, 47						Guardiola 90

Marcos Paulo tapped in after Castelazzi spilled a tame Muzzi free kick.
Sosa doubled Udinese's lead with a volley from Pineda's cross. Bachini
scored direct from a corner thanks to Turci's terrible handling. Muzzi
back heeled to Marcos Paulo, he hit a first time to Sosa, Mangone slipped,
Castelazzi flew off line but Sosa beat him to the ball, 3-1. Guardiola
scored his first goal in Serie A with a deflected effort in injury time.

Attendance : 17,000
Assists : Pineda, Marcos Paulo


VERONA				0-1			TORINO
							Franco 26

Verona dominated but Toro walked away with the points. Teodorani took a
shot in a packed penalty area, a defender cleared and the ball fell to
Franco, he ran the length of the field and shot past Ferron. Italiano was
sent off for handball.

Attendance : 14,500
Assist : ?
Red Card : Italiano 87 (Verona)


R Mehdi