2 May 2004
CHIEVO 2-0 MODENA
Sala 70
Amauri 90
Del Neri is one of the candidates for the upcoming vacancy at Juve and has gudied his
team to Serie A survial for another season. Pellisier, who has failed to build on an
excellent first season, headed Zanchetta's free kick accross the face of goal and
Sala headed in at the back post. Modena blew two chances to draw level. Marchegiani
saved Milanetto's weak penalty. Makinwa, who scored on his Serie A debut and has
been shooting blanks since, blazed over from close range. In the 90th minute Amuari
stabbed in Santana's clever back heel.
Attendance : 13,798
Assists : Pelissier, Santana
EMPOLI 2-0 BOLOGNA
Belleri 39
Vannucchi 73 (fk)
Empoli are battling to avoid the drop and Bologna only have an outside chance of winning
a UEFA Cup place. Belleri headed in Vannucchi's deflcted cross and Vannucchi scored the
second with a free kick.
Attendance : 6,471
Assist : ? (won fk)
LAZIO 1-1 REGGINA
Lopez 23 Cozza 53 (Pen)
Lazio are battling for a Champions League place while Reggina are struggling to avoid
relegation. The first noteworthy effort fell to Reggina, Peruzzi did well to tip Tedesco's
shot against the post. Corradi had a goal dissalowed for offside before Lopez scored with
a header. Liverani blew a great chance on the break, opting to try his luck with a lame
attempt at curling the ball past the 'keeper with Lopez standing in a better position.
Favalli was penalised for tugging Di Michele's shirt in the box as he turned and shot.
Cozza rammed the ball into the top corner. Peruzzi made an excellent save with his feet
to deny Di Michele and at the other end Belardi tipped over Inzaghi's header.
Assists : Mihajlovic, Di Michele (won pen)
LECCE 2-1 INTER
Tonetto 47 Adriano 36 (Pen)
Toldo 70 (og)
For the second consecutive week Lecce slew the giants but victory over a Juve side in free fall
isn't nearly as impressive as a victory over an Inter team who have taken 16 points from their
last 6 games. Diva Vieri threw a strop before the match by refusing to get off the team bus for
30 minutes after being told he wouldn't start the match, what a complete prick.
This was an excellent game. Lecce dominated but fell behind to Adriano's penalty. Chevanton
curled a free kick against the post, Konan dragged a shot just wide of the post and Lecce's
other superstar Ledesma had a shot blocked by Toldo. Stankovic's long range shot was the
only real threat Inter had on goal before Adriano took a dive in the box when Konan BEAT
him to a bouncing ball. Awful decision which could have proved costly against a team fighting
for survival. Instead of trying to tear a hole in the net Adriano rolled the ball into the corner.
Lecce equalised in first half injury time. Chevanton fired a cross into the box and the ball
struck Tonetto and took a wicked bounce over Toldo.
Adriano and Cruz, who started well under Zac but has faded badly in recent weeks, wasted
glorious chances to restore Inter's lead. Although Bovo was credited with the winning goal
it should go down and an og as Toldo punched the ball, from Chevanton's corner kick, into
his own net then Bovo smashed it in after it came back into the box. Vieri came on for the
last few minutes and volleyed over from close range.
Attendance : 21,200
Assists : Adriano (won pen), Chevanton
MILAN 1-0 ROMA
Shevchenko 2
A dream start for Milan. Kaka' held off the challenge of Dacourt and Lima before firing
a cross into the box which Shevchenko met with a bullet header into the corner (via
a deflection off Zebina). His 89th league goal for Milan, just one short of tying Van Basten's
Milan tally. Cafu made Dacourt look stupid with a brilliant dummy but selfishly tried his
luck from an acute angle with players better placed in the box. Seedorf volleyed just
wide of the post as the Roma defence continued to struggle to get a grip on the game,
like the rest of their team in fact. Shevchenko should have finished off Roma at the
end of the first half but shot horribly wide with a clear sight on goal.
D'Agostino replaced the awful Candela at the start of the second half. Although the Giallorossi
saw more possesion in the second half they still failed to trouble Dida. The games controversial
incident came when Totti won Roma a free kick (which shouldn't have been given). Shevchenko
charged down Totti's free kick with his elbow, as he had done weeks ago against Siena, but this
time Messina, who was AWFUL, failed to award a penalty. The Roma supporters reacted by
trying to maim the Milan players. Gattuso was caught in the middle of a firework explosion,
Capello's attempts to calm down his teams 'supporters' fell on deaf ears. Shevchenko wasted
a chance on the break, he opted to shoot with Tomasson better placed. Tomasson's quick turn
took him away from a defender but Pelizzoli was equal to his shot. Nesta also troubled the young
'keeper with a volley from a corner. Dida was struck on the head by what appeared to be a small
metal object, possibly a pocket torch. Kaka' went off to a standing ovation then Dida was floored
again, this time by a flare which caught his knee. There appeared to be a danger that the match
would be suspended. The heavens opened up but for Ancelotti this time the rain failed to spoil
the championship party, that was spoiled by Roma's supporters and by their teams complete
failure to put up a fight. This wasn't the championship decider many had hoped for, Roma
collapsed after the opening goal.
Reflections on Milan's championship and the other teams at the end of the season.
Post Match Reactions
Ancelotti :
"I didn't see the incident from the bench (Shevchenko's handball) but quite frankly it didn't
make a difference and I couldn't care less. Shevchenko should not have been in the wall, as he
is still scared after chipping his teeth. Maybe he wants to keep his looks intact."
"We have already earned 79 points and our aim now is to set a new Serie A record to beat the
one made by Inter in 1989."
"This is certainly a sweeter rain, as the one of Perugia was like acid on my skin. I had the scars
from that day, but they have been washed away now. We can go forward and keep working to
achieve more objectives."
Dida :
"We know that these games are always particularly tense. We did well and I thank the fans for
all their support."
Sacchi (who coached Ancelotti at Milan in the 80s) :
"I am glad that Milan won this Scudetto as, despite the fact we should honour Roma for their
overall performance, the best team won. I congratulate Ancelotti for his hard work as he won
the title with entertaining play and keeping possession rather than just the traditional
counter-attack tactics."
Capello :
"The best team won. At the end of the day the two League games between us, which Milan won,
proved decisive. I want to underline that Roma have had a splendid campaign but it is evident
that Milan have done better than us. We were absent for the first 45 minutes. We couldn't string
three passes together during the first period. After the break we were a lot more determined
and that became visible. Unfortunately conceding that early goal to Shevchenko ruined our plans."
"I have no regrets about trying that (Panucci in central defence and Candela in midfield).
I wouldn't change any decisions that I made today. Milan simply deserved to win."
"We appealed for it (the penalty) but it wasn't given. That is where the incident ended and
that is that. The future? I hope that the team remains very competitive but that depends on
the club's plans. Yet I'm hopeful."
Pelizzoli :
"We've had an excellent season anyway. Milan have beaten us twice in the League this term and
they therefore deserved the title."
Maldini :
"I am very proud and honoured to be the captain of this great team. Every victory is special and
each win makes me remember why I keep playing football. I hope to continue on both counts.
Milan utterly and completely deserved this Scudetto, so no critics or pundits can take that fact
away from us."
Costacurta :
"The real strength of this team and club is the unity of the whole group."
Nesta :
"This is a wonderful party even though it is a shame that a portion of the fans tried to ruin our
day. Now I want to look ahead to the European Championships and be in top shape for that
tournament."
Rui Costa :
"It was a bit of a different experience for me compared to that of my teammates but I am
nonetheless happy. It's my first Scudetto party in Italy and I intend to enjoy it."
Galliani :
"These last two years have been magnificent. Last season we won the Champions' League and
Coppa Italia, while this time we have lifted the Scudetto and European Supercup. It has been
extraordinary."
Milan's scudetto, their 17th, is the 43rd trophy in the clubs history.
Congrtulations to Ancelotti, the players and Milan supporters everywhere.
Sempre Milan
Attendance : 81,000
PARMA 3-1 ANCONA
Gilardino 9 Bucchi 33
Carbone 15
Bresciano 30
Parma leapfrogged Lazio and Inter into fourth place with an easy victory over relegated
Ancona. Gilardino's goal epitomised the strengths in his play. He read the offside trap,
ran between two defenders, bounced the ball off his chest then lobbed over Marcon,
yes Hedman was dropped for his spectaculalry awful performance last week. Speaking
of former internationals who are past it Dino Baggio gave his former club a helping
when he tripped over the ball, Bresciano touched the ball onto Carbone and he shot
low into the corner. Bresciano got on the end of a cleverly worked free kick to volley in
Parma's third. Bucchi ran onto a long ball and turned the overrated Bonera and beat
Frey with a shot inside the post. I hope Juve sign Bonera, he's crap.
I'll admit I'm not too clued up on Australians playing outside of England and Italy but
I find it hard to believe there is one better then Bresciano, Kewell certainly isn't this
season.
Attendance : 12,000
Assists : Carbone, Bresciano, Carbone, Goretti
PERUGIA 1-0 JUVENTUS
Ravanelli 49
As former Milan striker Jimmy Greaves once said (I'm sure he picked this expression up in
Italy) it's a funny old game. Ravanelli scored against his former club, against the coach
that showed him the door at Juve after he scored in a European Cup final to give Perugia
faint but misplaced hopes of survial - I don't think they can expect any charity from Roma
next week. Bothroyd dribbled himself into a Juve defender, Di Francesco picked up the ball
and passed back to Codrea, he passed to Ravanelli and with his back to goal he managed to
turn Iuliano and send the ball curling past Buffon. Great finish. Ferrara was shown a second
yellow for going through Bothroyd shortly before Gaddafi made his Serie A debut and he's
got about as much of a future in football as I have in journalism. Buffon made a great save
to deny Ravenelli a second goal from a free kick.
Attendance : 10,000
Assist : Codrea
Red Card : Ferrara 75 (Juventus)
SAMPDORIA 1-3 UDINESE
Bazzani 51 Jankulovski 28 (fk)
Pizarro 58 (Pen)
Iaquinta 86
A surprisingly one sided affair between two teams chasing a UEFA Cup place. Jankulosvki
blasted Udinese into the lead with a free kick, despite the efforts of dirty Diana. Iaquinta
missed an open goal. Flachi went close with one of his trademark outrageous strikes. This time
he controlled a ball on his chest, flicked it up with his right foot, turned and flashed a volley
across of the post, would have been one hell of a goal. Bazzani 'headed' in Volpi's corner -
with his arm. Jorgsensen went over Diana to win a penalty, Pizarro sent Antonioli the wrong
way. De Sanctis kept thrwarting Samp and as they threatened to equalise Udinese broke away
to score a third.
Attendance : 28,000
Assists : Pinzi (won fk), Volpi (ck), Jorgensen (won pen), Alberto
SIENA 0-1 BRESCIA
Brighi 59
A very controversial decision went against Siena in this relegation clash. Brescia goalkeeper
Castelazzi jumped for a cross, caught the ball and and as he landed under pressure from Ventola
he lost it and the former Inter striker tapped into the net. The goal was disallowed for a
'foul' on the 'keeper. Ventola did catch Castelazzi with his trailing foot but not enough
to make him drop the ball. Castelazzi made excellent saves from Chiesa and Lazetic before
Brescia took the lead with a quickly taken free kick. Juarez was sent off for kicking Caracciolo,
a good spot by referee Farina as in normal speed there appeared to be no contact. Matuzalem
saw red for going through the back of Ventola and D'Aversa for a trying to snap Stankevicius'
shins in half. I'm not sure what Brighi was sent off for. In between the mass violence Flo
missed a sitter.
Attendance : 11,000
Assist : Castellini (fk)
Red Cards : Juarez 65 (Siena), Matuzalem 86 (Brescia), Brighi 91 (Brescia), D'Aversa 95 (Siena)
R Mehdi
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