25 April 2004

ANCONA				0-2			CHIEVO
							Sala 59
							Semioli 79

After some fantastic displays Marcon found himself back on the bench as Hedman returned
to embarrass the entire goalkeeping profession. He was lucky to have gone into the second half
without conceding after going walkabout and leaving his goal exposed on two occasions. Sala
headed Perrotta's cross straight through Hedman's hands. Semioli's goal also owed much to
Hedman's spectacular incompetence. The midfielder latched onto a loose ball and tried his luck
from the edge of the box, Hedman dived late, 0-2.

Hedman is quite possibly the worst goalkeeper I have seen in 14 years of Serie A football.

Attendance : 5,000
Assist Perrotta


BOLOGNA			3-1			SIENA
Dalla Bonna 32						Mignani 58
Bellucci 62
Nervo 82

Quite a game from Siena defender Mignani. He deflected Dalla Bonna's shot past his own
'keeper then 'conceded' a penalty when Tare hurled himself down in the box. Fortin
made a fantastic save from the one step king Signori, Signori rarely misses penalties.
Bellucci swept Signori's through pass into the net. Bologna missed a million chances to
clear a ball in a packed penalty area, Mignani eventually gained possession and lobbed over
Pagliuca from an acute angle, fantastic finish. Tare headed on a long ball, Nervo flicked
the ball wide before volleying over Fortin. Another excellent finish. 

Attendance : 21,000
Assists : Signori, Tare
Red Card : Taddei 94 (Siena)


BRESCIA				1-1			PERUGIA
Baggio 45						Ravanelli 37

Ravanelli scored on the rebound after Castelazzi parried his header straight back at him.
Baggio equalised with a great strike at the end of a clever free kick routine. Mauri back heeled
the ball to Matuzalem, he stopped it dead and Baggio smashed into the bottom corner.
Petruzzi was sent off for going through the back of Ravanelli. Ravanelli has come in
for some rough treatment since returning to Serie A.

Attendance : 11,500
Assist : Matuzalem
Red Card : Petruzzi 88 (Brescia)


INTER				0-0			LAZIO

This would have been the high scoring game everyone was expecting but for the woodwork
and two fantastic saves by Peruzzi.

Attendance : 56,000


JUVENTUS			3-4			LECCE
Trezeguet 3						Franceschini 24
Maresca 56						Konan 30, 43
Del Piero 79						Chevanton 52

It looked like business as usual for Juve (against jobber sides) when Trezeguet gave them a
third minute lead with a tap-in after Zambrotta's cross came of Legrottaglie's heels.
Buffon, horribly exposed by his defence this season, continued his poor recent form.
He dropped what may have been a deflected shot from Ledesma and Franceschini tapped
into an empty net. Konan, described by the commentator as Lecce's Weah (you'll understand
why in a minute), ran 70 yards from his defence, a sudden change of direction took out three
players and 25 yards from goal he let fly with a left foot effort which Buffon let slip straight
through his hands at which point the Lecce tifosi didn't sing "Are you Hedman in disguise".
Konan's second goal was absolutely superb. With his left foot he instantly killed Sicignano's
massive, massive, flicked the ball past Iuliano, then past of Legrottaglie and unleashed a
powerful shot sending the ball screaming into the net. Konan and Ledesma combined to give
 Lecce's fourth. Lippi's second half substitutions help restore some pride. Maresca headed
in Del Piero's free kick and both players reversed roles for Juve's third, Maresca headed the
ball to Del Piero, he back heeled past a defender, turned and found the bottom corner.

Attendance : 31,000
Assists : Legrottaglie, Franceschini, Sicignano (gk), Del Piero (fk), Maresca


MODENA				1-0			SAMPDORIA
Kamara 59

Zancope made an excellent save from Bazzani's header just before Kamara headed in Vignaroli's
free kick. 

Attendance : 19,000
Assist : Vignaroli (fk)


REGGINA			1-1			PARMA
Torrisi 48						Bresciano 9 (ck)

Bresciano scored direct from a corner. Frey made a string of excellent saves, most of them
from Stellone. Torrisi threw himself at Cozza's corner kick, wasn't looking in the direction
of goal, and the ball looped in the air before crashing in off the post. Frey was beaten a second
time from a header but the goal was ruled out for offside. Frey made a brilliant point blank
save from Stellone and Di Michele headed the rebound wide with the entire goal at his mercy.
Frey should have been sent off for handling the ball outside his area - he rushed out of his box
to clear a through pass and as he sliced the ball in the air he raised his arm and swatted it away.
Francheschini headed against a post. Amazing performance by Frey.

Assists : Cozza (ck)


ROMA				3-0			EMPOLI
Totti 41, 90
Carew 64

Roma quickly found their rhythm in this match and were creating chances almost at will
before Totti headed his team into the lead from Panucci's cross. Roma became the first team
in football history to introduce the concept of special teams. Carew came on in the 63rd minute,
scored in the 64th minute and went off in the 68th. He was sent off for pushing Vargas. I'm not
sure what Vargas did to deserve the red card, his challenge on the big Norwegian was nothing.
The real Captain Marvel Totti scored with a simply divine first time lob. He came close to a
hat-trick after nutmegging a defender and flashing the ball across the face of goal.

Barring a ridiculous collapse by Milan, Roma won't win the league but Totti is definitely
the best player in Serie A this season.

Attendance : 7,000
Assists : Panucci, D'Agostino, Delvecchio
Red Card : Carew 68 (Roma)


UDINESE			0-0			MILAN

Immensely poor first half. The second half wasn't much better. Kaka' wasted the games best
chance. Having brilliantly turned Bertotto he burst through the Udinese defence but shot
wide. Substitute Tomasson went close with a deflected shot late in the match.

Milan can wrap up the title if they beat Roma at home next Sunday.

Attendance : 32,000

R Mehdi