SERIE A ROUND 8
 
2 November 2003

CHIEVO					0-2			INTER
								Vieri 63
								Recoba 66

Vieri chased down a long ball, Marchegiani ran out of his box and kicked him, GENIUS,
red card. Prior to the sending off both Vieri and Recoba had struck the crossbar. After
having more shots in this match then in 10 under Cuper Inter finally took the lead
just past the hour mark, Vieri with a great header from Recoba's cross. Three minutes
we witness a truly remarkable sight, Vieri played a one-two with Christian Zanetti,
ran down the left wing and sent a cross to the back post and Recoba volleyed in his first
goal of the season.

Although there was still a bit too much long ball Inter passed the ball around a lot better
than usual and there was a noticeable difference in the way they played, in fact that was
the case in Zac's first match against Roma.

Assists : Recoba, Vieri
Red Card : Marchegiani 34 (Chievo)


ANCONA					0-0			SIENA

Plenty of chances, terrible finishing.

Attendance : 15,000


BOLOGNA				0-1			SAMPDORIA
								Doni 33

Doni scored with a deflected free kick. Samp should have won by a landslide, Bologna were
awful. Serves them right for appointing Mazzone as coach, Mazzone is a stain on the face
of humanity.

Attendance : 22,000


BRESCIA					2-3			PARMA
Matuzalem 4							Morfeo 12
Di Biagio 37							Marchionni 43
								Gilardino 71

Matuzalem scored after Baggio laid off an over hit cross. Adriano stepped over Marchionni's
cross allowing Morfeo in on the back post. Brescia regained the lead when Parma went to
sleep on a throw in, Frey did well to save from Baggio but couldn't stop Di Biagio on the
rebound. Marchionni headed Parma level from Morfeo's excellent volleyed cross. Caracciolo
almost scored an immediate equaliser but his shot came back off the crossbar. Adriano
pulled up with what appeared to be a thigh strain. If he isn't fit for next week's match
against Milan, Parma are screwed. Stankevicius' suicidal back header allowed Gilardino
to score the winner. Matuzalem was sent off for a horrible two footed lunge on Bonera.

Attendance : 16,000
Assists : Baggio, Marchionni, Morfeo
Red Card : Matuzalem 79 (Brescia)


LECCE					2-1			EMPOLI
Chevanton 2 (Pen), 43						Rocchi 60

The match was played on a rain sodden pitch. Chevanton smashed in a penalty after Bojinov
threw himself over Lucchini. He added a fine second and shortly after Rocchi had
pulled a goal back came within inches of scoring a hat-trick but his shot came back off
a post, Bojinov made a mess of the rebound. Lanzaro was sent off for scything down
Chevanton.

Attendance : 9,462
Assists : Bojinov (won pen), Piangerelli, Gasparetto
Red Card : Lanzaro 63 (Empoli)


MODENA					1-0			PERUGIA
Allegretti 49

Inevitably the absolutely brilliant Kamara was involved in the winning goal. He split the
Perugia defence with another of his trademark long range through passes and Allegretti
chipped the ball first time over Kalac. Kamara pulled down a long ball and as he turned
Coly caught him with both feet but, because he's a total stud, he simply ignored the
fact that his right leg had almost been snapped in half and ran upfield. Perugia had all
the chances but couldn't score - because they don't have Kamara.

Attendance : 14,000
Assist : Kamara

Intermission

No new adverts this week so this weeks unoffical sponsors are Microsoft, authors of the
excellent new Tennis game, Top Spin, for the X-box. A friend of mine has this theory that
the only reason I beat him on videogames (and he's not the only one) is because I practice
more than he does. So when I visited him last week he fancied his chances on Top Spin,
because he knows I don't have an X-box and therefore have never played the game.
Anyway we played a set, he was 3-2 up having broken my servce and was getting a bit
cokey so I told him there's plenty of time. I won 6-4 and in the rematch I was 5-0 up
but double faulted to drop servce as I was trying despertly for an ace, which I had yet
to manage in either match. So I got to match point and he paused the game to check
his e-mails, I told him "we haven't finished" he said "I know, I'm trying to put you off"
to which I replied "It won't work". So three minutes later he takes pauses off and I
drill the ball straight down the line, 130mph, first ace, game, set and match. Thank you
please. 


ROMA					2-0			REGGINA
Montella 18
Carew 81

The Roma tifosi held up a banner praising Capello for playing 3-4-3. After a bad miss by
Totti, Montella gave Roma the lead. Dacourt launched a ball up filed, Montella pulled it
down, the Reggina defence stopped playing waiting for offside, it didn't happen and he
scored. Belardi thwarted Totti with several brilliant saves. Montella and Cassano were
substituted for De Rossi and Carew. They combined for the second goal, De Rossi flicked
on Dacourt's cross and Carew turned and stroked the ball into the net, great finish.

Next week's Rome derby (Roma are home) should be awesome. I'll be surprised if Lazio
don't get hammered.

Attendance : 50,000
Assists : Dacourt, De Rossi


1 November 2003

UDINESE				1-2			LAZIO
Iaquinta 27							Corradi 17
								Inzaghi S 34

Corradi scored with his head, again, from Oddo's cross. Some spectacularly poor defending
by that wretched, wretched man Mihajlovic was deservedly punished when Iaquinta
volleyed Udinese level. De Sanctis should have stopped a weakly struck effort by Stankovic
but he didn't, although the wet conditions didn't help, and Inzaghi netted the winner.

Attendance : 16,000
Assist : Oddo


MILAN					1-1			JUVENTUS
Tomasson 64							Di Vaio 83

After a dull opening 40 minutes or so the game exploded, literally, after Tacchinardi fouled
Pirlo in the Juve half. The Juve players were furious because Milan failed to stop after
Nedved had gone down feigning injury, again. Minutes before that Rui Costa gave away
the ball thinking Nedved was injured only to see the Czech playmaker make a miraculous
recovery. Shevchenko dribbled past Appiah and fired a low cross into the box but Appiah
cleared. The only noteworthy effort in the half.

Early in the second half Shevchenko had a goal harshly ruled out for offside. Juve's response
was immediate, Di Vaio struck the post with a spectacular volley and Dida made the first
of two all time great saves to deny Trezeguet a certain goal. Tomasson scored his 3rd goal
in 3 starts after Camoranesi screwed up playing offside from a corner. As the Juve defence
ran out Pirlo found Tomasson and he calmly stroked the ball past Buffon. Dida came to Milan's
rescue again with a save to rival the one he performed in the Champions League against Ajax,
Di Vaio connected perfectly with a cross to the back post but Dida flew across his goal to
block. Pancaro came on for Tomasson and some selfish play by Shevchenko and Serginho on
the break cost Milan chances to increase their lead. Juve caught out Milan with a quickly taken
free kick as once again Nedved was fouled/dived. Trezeguet back heeled Maresca's cross and
Di Vaio sent a thunderous volley, measured at over 80mph, screaming into the top corner -
even Dida couldn't save this one.

An amazing second half of football. Maldini and Pirlo were superb, again, but MOM was clearly
Dida who has a legit claim for being the best 'keeper in the World. Juve were the better team
overall and surprisingly over ran Milan in midfield. The form of Seedorf and continued absence
of Kaladze is a big problem. Ancelotti will probably get slated for substituting Tomasson but
the midweek game against Brugge is more important.

Attendance : 77,900
Assists : Pirlo, Trezeguet

R Mehdi