21 April 2004

LAZIO				1-1			ROMA
Corradi 40						Totti 61 (Pen)

A Roma counter attack was the highlight of the first half. Lima headed down a ball out of
defence and Totti hit a magnificent 40 yard volleyed pass straight to Cassano who, as usual,
showed an immaculate touch to bring the ball under control, carried it forward then slipped
in Lima but he shot with his weaker right foot and failed to trouble Peruzzi. A series of
mistakes lead to Lazio's goal. Candela, getting a rare start, tried to shepared a ball out of
play but ended up passing to Fiore, Chivu cleared only as far as Albertini who played
the ball back to Fiore, his cross was met by Corradi and the ball spun in the air, the Roma
defence failed to react thinking the ball was heading out of play but Zauri hooked it back
accross the face of goal and Corradi's poorly struck volley bobbled into the net.

Roma uped the tempo and pinned Lazio in their half. Lima missed another chance, Cassano
had a goal dissalowed for absolutely nothing and D'Agostino, a major improvement over the
rapidly fading Candela, made poor contact with a cross with a clear sight of goal. After a series
or corners and free kicks Roma were awarded a penalty for handball, brilliantly spotted
by the linesman. Totti almost tore a hole in the net with an emphatic finish then raced off
the pitch and jumped on a camera to watch his goal. Totti almost snapped the crossbar in half
with a chilling free kick and Corradi headed against a post. Totti talked Rosetti into sending
off Liverani for pulling his shirt then the game completly died on it's arse. Overall though
another entertaining Rome derby even if it lacked the goalmouth action of previous
encounters.

Assist : Zauri
Red Card : Liverani 80 (Lazio)


21 March 2004

LAZIO				0-0			ROMA

Both teams hit the woodwork in a pulsating first half. The match was suspended when
Roma fans started throwing flares on the pitch after a fellow supporter walked onto the
pitch and told them a child had been run over by a police van, a rumour that later proved
to be false.


ANCONA				0-2			INTER
							Recoba 60
							Adani 70

Inter got plenty of shooting practice in this match but an inspired Marcon kept making
wonder saves from Recoba that is until 'El Chino' picked up the ball on the half way line,
rode three tackles and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner. Adani
added a second when he headed in Recoba's free kick. Inter's first win in seven matches.

Attendance : 20,000
Assist : Recoba (fk)


BOLOGNA			3-0			BRESCIA
Tare 40
Nervo 70
Signori 79

Tare's looping header gave Bologna the lead in this intriguing clash between two of Serie A's
modern 'legends', Bobby Baggio and a portly Signori. Shortly after Baggio tested Pagliuca with
an audacious first time lob, Signori showed he had a trick or two up his sleeve with a back
heel to Tare, he in turn passed to Nervo who stepped inside a defender before drilling the ball
past Castelazzi. Signori raced onto a hospital pass, resisted a tackle then found the bottom
corner.

Attendance : 
Red Card : Pecchia 91 (Bologna)
Assists : Colucci, Signori


CHIEVO				1-1			SIENA
D'Anna 68 (Pen)						Ventola 86

D'Anna converted a penalty awarded for a foul on Barzagli. Chiesa had a penalty saved but
Ventola sparred his blushes when he turned in the box and fired in a loose ball.

Attendance : 10,145
Assists : Barzagli


EMPOLI				1-1			SAMPDORIA
Rocchi 92						Belleri 18 (og)

Empoli goalkeeper Balli palmed Diana's cross onto team-mate Belleri, og. Collina made one
of his curious decisions when failing to award Empoli a penalty for a clear handball. Empoli
created a million chances but seemed to be heading for an unjust defeat when Rocchi headed
in a rebound after Cribari had brilliantly charged down a shot.

Attendance : 6,500


LECCE				1-2			PERUGIA
Dalmat 85						Brienza 13
							Di Loreto 60

Brienza scored his first Serie A goal on a rebound after Ravanelli's shot was saved. Di Loreto
added a second from close range before Dalmat's kid brother headed in Ledesma's cross.
Perugia were lucky to escape with three points, Kalac spilled Chevanton's shot at Giacomazzi's
feet and he contrived to shoot wide inches from goal.

Attendance : 7,092
Assist : Ledesma


MODENA				1-2			REGGINA
Kamara 49 (Pen)						Bonazzoli 15
							Di Michele 45

Mesto sent Di Michele clear down the right and Bonazzoli tapped in his centre. Di Michele
added a brilliant second on the stroke of half time. He took one touch to control Cozza's
pass and as Zancope came off his line he dropped the ball over his head into the net.
Kamara converted a penalty awarded for handball but missed a second.

Cozza is brilliant and good enough for the national team but isn't going to get a look in.

Attendance : 14,000
Assists : Di Michele, Cozza


20 March 2004

MILAN				3-1			PARMA
Tomasson 34, 52						Gilardino 81
Shevchenko 65

Parma had a perfectly valid goal disallowed inside the first two minutes. Dida came up for a
cross and collided with Gilardino, as he crashed to the turf, he dropped the ball and Bresciano
tapped into an empty net but the goal was disallowed for a 'foul' on the 'keeper. Despite being
surrounded by two defenders, Kaka' managed to find Cafu out wide, Seedorf gave a shout for
the ball, he got it and leapt in the air to attempt a scissor kick but didn't make proper contact
and shot wide. Barone volleyed against the post before Milan suddenly clicked. An exquisite pass
by Kaka' lead to an incredible miss. As Tomasson attempted to touch Shevchenko's goal bound
shot over the line the ball clipped off his heels leaving Shevchenko furious. Milan took the lead
shortly thereafter. Shevchenko controlled Seedorf's raking pass on his chest before playing in
the onrushing Pancaro, Pancaro feigned to cross first time, checked back onto his right foot
then chipped the ball to the back post for Tomasson to head in.

Kaka' over hit a pass with Shevchenko and Tomasson unmarked in the box but made
amends two minutes later with a sensational run. Milan played the ball out of defence
then Cafu sent Kaka' down the right, he held off a defender, ran half the length of the pitch
before bursting into the box and rolling the ball to the back post for Tomasson's second.
Seedorf controlled a backpass with his arm but the ref didn't see it as he had his back to
play, the linesman has no such excuse, Seedorf threaded the ball to Tomasson and instead
of taking a shot for his hat-trick, Tomasson squared for Shevchenko. Ancelotti took off
Shevchenko, Maldini and Kaka' within minutes of each other. Dida made a superb stop from
Gilardino but couldn't prevent the young striker from grabbing a late consolation goal thanks
in part to some sloppy defending by Laursen.

Gilardino is the new Inzaghi. His positional sense is already incredible, he has excellent
technique and has improved his conditioning.

Attendance : 63,433
Assists : Pancaro, Kaka', Tomasson, Bresciano


UDINESE			0-0			JUVENTUS

Trezeguet was back. The 54th minute was the only one worth watching. Felipe attempted
a scissor kick, the ball flew off his knee and Buffon tipped over the bar. From the resulting
corner Jankulosvki's deflected shot rebounded off a post.

Attendance : 27,000

R Mehdi