LAZIO THRASH INTER TO HAND JUVENTUS CHAMPIONSHIP
5 MAY 2002
BRESCIA 3-0 BOLOGNA
Bachini 49
Baggio 74
Toni 88
Bachini scored after good work by Yllana and Toni. Baggio won a penalty.
Pagliuca, who is hopeless as saving penalties, saved it but Baggio
scored on the rebound! Toni took the pace of a pass from Antonio Filippini
and rifled past Pagliuca though he was offside.
No idea what to expect in terms of arrivals and departures for next season.
Brescia have been careful with their money so they have plenty to spend,
in theory.
Attendance : 23,000
Assists : Toni, A Filippini
CHIEVO 2-1 ATALANTA
Corradi 58 Rossini 52
Cossato 74
Loads of chances for both teams in the first half but no goals until the
second. Doni flicked the ball over the Chievo defence as they stood in
line trying to play offside and Rossini chipped over Lupatelli. Fantastic
pass, arguably the pass of the season. The Atalanta defence, who by this
point must have been bored or something, decided to play Chievo's offside
trap and they pulled it off to perfection. Corradi tapped in from
De Franceschini's centre and Cossato did likewise from Barone's pass. The
Chievo players wore T-Shirts in honour of their dead team-mate Jason
Mayele under their strip.
Interest has cooled in Chievo's stars in recent weeks and Del Neri plans to
stay on for another season. It will be difficult to repeat this season's
heroics but Chievo will now have some money in the bank. Doni is 100%
certain to move to either Juve and Roma. He will be awesome at Juve
alongside Nedved in midfield. Roma don't really need him.
Attendance : 11,560
Assists : Doni, De Franceschini, Barone
LAZIO 4-2 INTER
Poborsky 19, 45 Vieri 12
Simeone 55 Di Biagio 24
Inzaghi 73
Peruzzi came out for a corner, got the ball then dropped it against
Di Biagio and Vieri hooked over the line. Fiore played a one-two with
Stankovic, Stankovic's high return pass into the box was outstanding,
Fiore centred and Poborsky volleyed past Toldo. Great goal. Inter went
back in front from another corner. Di Biagio headed in from Conceicao's
cross. Recoba shot wide after Ronaldo played him in with a perfectly
weighted pass. Stankovic crossed from the left, Cordoba tried to clear,
the ball ballooned up in the air, Gresko headed the ball straight to
Poborsky, 2-2. Horrendous mistake.
Simeone put Lazio in front with a bullet header from a Fiore free kick.
Nesta cleared off the line as Favalli almost put the ball past his own
'keeper. It was as close as Inter got in a half totally dominated by
Lazio although more sloppy handling by Peruzzi almost gifted them an
equaliser. Cesar smoked Javier Zanetti with a great turn then floating
a cross onto Inzaghi's head. Game, set and match Lazio. Ronaldo was
substituted and minutes later broke down in tears. Cesar headed against
a post as Inter once again went to sleep on a set piece play.
This is the second time Vieri has lost a title on the last day of the
season. Ironically he was playing in a Lazio shirt the last time it
happened and Zaccheroni was the coach of Milan, the team that denied
Lazio the Scudetto. Simeone of course joined Lazio as part of the deal
that took Vieri to Inter! Many people will blame Gresko or the defence
for blowing the Scudetto, I blame the lightweight midfield. The first
line of defence is the midfield. Javier Zanetti, Christian Zanetti and
Di Biagio are hard working midfielders but nothing more than that.
Inter need someone the calibre of Vieira, Keane, Gerrard or even Davids.
Regardless of who they sign in defence if Cuper plays the same midfield
next season Inter will again come up short. Knowing Cuper he'll probably
sign Almeyda and he definitely isn't the answer.
Lazio are in decent shape for next season but the fans and chairman aren't
happy with Zac who isn't exactly my favourite coach but has done a fine
job all things considered. Rumours link Crespo with a move to Juve.
Depends how well he plays in the World Cup. Expect Claudio Lopez to leave.
Arsenal are said to be interested in Stam. Looks like Nesta will stay.
Assists : Di Biagio, Fiore, Conceicao (corner), Fiore (free kick), Cesar
MILAN 3-0 LECCE
Kaladze 7
Ambrosini 44
Shevchenko 48
Frezzolini was given a rare start, presumable Chimenti is injured, and
made a stunning reaction save from Inzaghi. Kaladze volleyed Milan into
the lead from Pirlo's free kick. Superbi drilled a shot against the post.
Inzaghi should have scored followed great work by Shevchenko and Serginho
and missed another glorious chance, shooting against the crossbar from a
Shevchenko cross. Ambrosini headed Milan into the Champions League.
Pirlo kept the ball in play after Frezzolini had blocked his shot,
Inzaghi tried to turn the ball into an empty net, it rolled across the
face of goal and Shevchenko broke what seems like an eternal goal drought
with the simplest of tap-ins. Frezzolini made a superb save from substitute
Rui Costa's free kick.
Rui Costa better have a good World Cup otherwise he's going to find it
very hard to get a game next season ahead of fans favourite Andrea Pirlo
who has been excellent in recent weeks. It seems Shevchenko stays as the
only club who can afford him, Real Madrid, are no longer interested.
Cannavaro is the #1 target. Tomasson has already signed, why? I'm still
not convinced by Ancelotti but let's see what he does in the summer.
Attendance : 70,000
Assists : Pirlo (free kick), Serginho, Inzaghi
PARMA 2-1 VENEZIA
Di Vaio 45 (Pen) Maniero 7
Micoud 80
A fantastic opener for Maniero. He controlled Cvitanovic's cross with an
arm, turned and from wide left on the edge of the box, curled the ball
into the top corner and walked away as if he had scored an own goal.
I just can't figure this guy out. He needs a local anaesthetic for a
smile. Parma were given a soft penalty when Bonazzoli fell over in the
box. Di Vaio hammered the ball past Brivio.
Parma were awarded another penalty when Junior was kicked in the box.
Brivio made a fantastic save from Di Vaio. A superb strike from Micoud
gave Parma the points in this irrelevant match.
Cannavaro's last game for Parma. He'll go looking for honours at either
Juve or Milan. Micoud is said to be headed for the Premiership. Nakata
better have a good World Cup if he hopes to join one of Europe's elite.
Maniero deserves a shot at the big time.
Attendance : 15,000
Assists : Bonazzoli (won pen), Bonazzoli
PERUGIA 2-0 FIORENTINA
Bazzani 9
Ze Maria 26
Cassano made a great save from Tedesco but Bazzani put in the rebound,
or to be more precise the ball bounced off him into the net. Ze Maria
tried a Beckham but Cassano palmed over his 50yd effort. He was helpless
however minutes later when Ze Maria's free kick deflected in off the wall.
Bazzani should have been sent off elbowing Tarozzi, instead it was Tarozzi
who saw red as he was the last man and adjudged to have brought down
Bazzani. Cassano made another great save from Ze Maria. The snow storm
relented in the second half, it wouldn't be the last day of the season
without freak weather conditions.
Ze Maria is certain to leave but his destination is unknown. If he moves
to a big club hopefully he'll be given a chance in the first team and
the freedom he needs to play to his potential.
Attendance : 8,000
Red Card : Tarozzi 44 (Perugia)
PIACENZA 3-0 VERONA
Volpi 25
Hubner 47 (Pen), 83
Volpi curled in a free kick. Ferron flattened Hubner in the box and should
have been sent off. The Boss converted the penalty then ran onto
Gautieri's through pass, rounded Ferron and rolled the ball into an empty
net to finish as joint top scorer alongside Trezeguet. Sing along now
"Born in Muggia, I was born in Muggia".
Attendance : 15,000
Assists : Hubner (won free kick), Hubner (won pen), Gautieri
TORINO 0-1 ROMA
Cassano 68
Batistuta went close from a free kick and missed an open goal after
Delvecchio headed Candela's cross against him. Cassano scored with a
great lob from Montella's through pass. Montella tried to repeat the
trick minutes later but didn't get enough lift on the ball.
Roma will need a new attack next season as Batistuta, who has been awful
for the past 18 months, has been blamed by Capello for the teams failure
to retain their Scudetto. Montella is itching for a move.
Attendance : 35,000
Assist : Montella
UDINESE 0-2 JUVENTUS
Trezeguet 2
Del Piero 11
The perfect start for Juve. Trezeguet with a trademark header from
Nedved's cross. Di Michele should have equalised in the fifth minutes
after Juve screwed up playing offside but shot wide. Del Piero scored
the second on a counter attack. Trezeguet picked him out with a glorious
cross field pass, he raced away from the defence and he swept the ball
into the bottom corner. Despite some slick football at times Juve
couldn't add to their tally. Sosa forced Buffon into a great save minutes
before the final whistle. Udinese tried hard without really threatening.
In fact today everyone tried hard, so much for the theory that teams
with nothing to play for would lay down and die.
Congratulations to Juve who finally won the Scudetto on the last day of
the season having gone close twice in succession. Cannavaro and a striker
to partner Trezeguet are top of the Champions shopping list. Juve could
complete the double next week if they defeat Parma in the 2nd league of
the Italian Cup final. No doubt who is their player of the season,
Pavel 'The Talisman' Nedved.
Attendance : 35,000
Assists : Nedved, Trezeguet
R Mehdi
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