9 May 2004

ANCONA				2-1			EMPOLI
Milanese 19						Vanucchi 68
Sommese 73 (Pen)

Relegated Ancona put Empoli into deep shit with only their second victory of the season.
Milanese, sporting a new, and slightly less ridiculous haircut, arrived unmarked at the back
post to head in Sommese's free kick. Empoli were lucky the ref missed a blatant handball
in the box. Ancona showcased all their defensive qualities when conceding their 69th league
goal of the season but a dubious penalty, won with a spectacular dive, restored their lead and
secured their 13th point of the season.

Attendance : 5,000
Assist : Sommese (fk), Bucchi (won pen)


BOLOGNA			1-1			LECCE
Tare 34							Chevanton 95

Tare finished off a nice passing move with a shot into the corner. Chevanton missed a penalty.
Signori couldn't score a goal in his last home game but was still given a standing ovation from
the fans. Chevanton scored a brilliant equaliser deep into injury time, he controlling a cross
on his right thigh before volleying under Pagliuca.

Attendance : 22,000
Assists : Bellucci, Tonetto


BRESCIA				2-1			LAZIO
Mauri 80							Cesar 93
Baggio 89

Brescia completed the double over Lazio, Baggio scored a goal and put a serious dent in
Lazio's hopes of securing a Champions League place. Lazio paid the price for some poor
finishing. Corradi headed against the crossbar twice and also got the ball caught in his
feet a foot from goal Baggio had fairytale final home match. He set-up the first with a
spectacular back heel volley and then showed incredible skill to turn inside Couto at pace
before smashing the ball past former team-mate Peruzzi, sending the crowd delirious.
Cesar hit a stunning volley deep into injury time.

Attendance : 15,000
Assists : Baggio, Schopp


INTER				1-0			PARMA
Adriano 62

This was really bad until Adriano came on in the second half though Inter should have
been two goals clear by then. Stankovic headed against the bar and Vieri shot wide when
a mistake by Bonera left him with only the 'keeper to beat. Parma's only chance came on
the break, a phenomenal save by Toldo denied Carbone. Adriano toiled away in an
unfamiliar role on the right (because Zac believes he and Vieri can't play in attack together)
but still managed to score the winner with a blistering strike off Emre's free kick.
Vieri was booked, meaning he misses the last game of the season, for fouling Blasi and
Blasi earned himself a second yellow for taking a tug on Adriano's shirt. Recoba came on
and sucked major arse. A wonderfully flighted ball from Emre released Zanetti on the
right but his volley bounced just wide of a post.

Attendance : 56,000
Assist : Emre (fk)
Red Card : Blasi 78 (Parma)


JUVENTUS			2-0			SAMPDORIA
Legrottaglie 36
Appiah 43

Lippi ended his final match at the Delle Alpi with victory over UEFA Cup chasing Sampdoria.
Two of Juve's scapegoats scored the goals. Legrottaglie headed the Bianconeri into the lead
from a Del Piero corner and Appiah started a finish a move with a powerfully strike half volley. 
Nedved, who is still far from his best and low on confidence, should have added a third.
Lippi did a lap of honour at the end of the match. It's a shame more Juve supporters didn't
turn up to give him the send off he deserves for the incredible success he brought to the club.

Assists : Del Piero (ck), Maresca


MODENA				1-3			SIENA
Marazzina 83						Taddei 42, 81
							Chiesa 93

A brace from Taddei secured last season's Serie B champions Serie A football for another season.
The gifted youngster headed in a Guigou corner. Ventola got Mayer sent off by totally overacting
to a challenge. Mayer had already been booked for an earlier incident. Taddei smashed in a
second after Zancope dropped Guigou's cross. Marazzina pulled a goal back but Chiesa, on as
a substitute for Ventola, made up for an earlier miss when he blasted in his 10th goal of the
season.

Assists : Guigou (ck), ?, Cucciari
Red Card : Mayer 59 (Modena)


REGGINA			2-1			MILAN
Di Michele 7						Shevchenko 51
Cozza 30 (Pen)

Ancelotti obviously wasn't serious about beating Inter's points record as he fielded a weakened,
Brazilian-less side. An amazing goal from Di Michele sent Reggina on the way to a crucial three
points which secured their Serie A status. He pounced on a mistake by Nesta to hit a scissor kick
on the turn into the top corner. Maldini was penalised for handling in the box and Cozza smashed
the ball past Abbiati. Shevchenko managed to equal Van Basten's goals tally for Milan when
he scored his 90th league goal with a header from Kaladze's cross. I have been saying for weeks
he was close to equalling this feat and the commentator mentioned it as well. That's 90 goals
in 149 games (0.60 goals per game) and he holds the record for most goals by a Milan player
in Europe (21).

Milan's all time top scorers :

		Games		Goals		GPG
1. Nordahl	257		212		0.82
2. Rivera		501		122		0.24
3. Altafini	205		120		0.59
4. Van Basten	147		90		0.61
5. Shevchenko	149		90		0.60

The goal should also guarantee Shevchenko finishes the season as Serie A top scorer, the 16th
time a Milan player has held that accolade (another record).

Attendance : 23,000
Assist : Kaladze


ROMA				1-3			PERUGIA
Cassano 12						Ze Maria 19 (fk), 24 (Pen)
							Ravanelli 83

Another beautiful goal by Cassano gave the Giallorossi the first of what I assumed would be
many goals but a brace by Ze Maria turned the match on it's head. Totti helped on Dacourt's
pass with an outrageous back heel volley, Cassano controlled the ball on his chest and ran
into the box, just as Coly dived in to tackle Cassano calmly moved out of the way then
flicked the ball over Kalac. Ze Maria hit a wicked, wicked free kick past Zotti then following
up with an unnecessarily hard penalty. An excellent finish from Ravanelli completed the
upset. Despite victory the best Perugia can hope for is 15th place and a play-off against the
6th place team in Serie B.

Attendance : 5,000
Assists : Totti, Obodo (won fk), Fresi (won pen), Bothroyd


UDINESE			1-1			CHIEVO
Iaquinta 46						Bertotto 33 (og)

Cossatto's header took a wicked deflection off Bertotto. Udinese created several chances over
the next few minutes and had penalty appeals turned down but equalised in first half injury
time when Iaquinta hit an explosive shot on the turn, excellent goal. The draw guarantees
Udinese a UEFA Cup place next season.

Attendance : 18,000
Assist : Pinzi


R Mehdi