3 September 2007

MILAN 1 (Kaka' 27 Pen)
FIORENTINA 1 (Mutu 56)

Milan paraded their latest piece of silverware before kick off, the European Super Cup. Frey made a phenomenal early double save from Gilardino before Kaka' gave Milan the lead from the penalty spot following Dainelli's clumsy challenge on Ambrosini. A poor touch by the Milan captain lead to the equaliser, Santana intercepted and crossed to the back post, Mutu got above Jankulovski to head past a poorly positioned Dida. Inzaghi kicked fresh air from six yards out but it was the visitors who had the best chances, Nesta denied Milan flop Vieri with an excellent block and substitute Kuzmanovic struck a shot against the inside of a post.

Attendance : 35,000
Assists : Ambrosini (won pen), Santana


2 September 2007

ATALANTA 2 (Zampagna 21 Pen, Carrozzieri 65)
PARMA 0

Zampagna took over penalty duties in the absence of Doni. Most 'keepers would have saved it but Bucci is a midget and couldn't reach. Carrozzieri made a late run from the edge of the box to head in Tissone's corner.

Attendance : 10,000
Assists : Langella (won pen), Tissone (ck)


CAGLIARI 2 (Foggia 56 Pen, Foggia 81 Pen)
JUVENTUS 3 (Trezeguet 54, Del Piero 76, Chiellini 90)

An absolutely crazy match which no doubt Italian TV will spend an hour going over. Cagliari had the better of the first half but things livened up following the second half introduction of Camoranesi. He took a boot the ribs and elbow to the face when trying to attack a Chiellini cross and Trezeguet pounced as Fortin made a half arsed attempt to clear. Cagliari hit back immediately from the penalty spot and appeared to have won a second after Conti took a dive in the box but the ref changed his mind after consulting one of the linesman. Almiron lobbed a ball into the box, Fortin came off his line and watched Camoranesi's cross sail over his head to the back post and Del Piero stabbed in. After conceding a penalty, once again dispatched by former Milan youth team player Foggia (they dropped the ball on him), Zebina walked for dissent. As he left the pitch he slapped a cameraman. Good way to extend your match ban, dumb bastard. The ref decided to even up the sides by showing red to Del Grosso for an innocuous challenge. In the last minute Camoranesi completed a hat-trick of assists when he swung a free kick to the back post and Chiellini headed past the abysmal Fortin.

This was the first time in 19 years that two penalties had been awarded against Juve, ironically that was in a match against Napoli when Luciano Moggi was 'working' for the club.

Attendance : 20,000
Red Cards : Zebina 82, Del Grosso 83
Assists : Camoranesi, Matri (won pen), Camoranesi, Larrivey (won pen), Camoranesi (fk)


CATANIA 0
GENOA 0

Attendance : 16,000
Assist : n/a


LIVORNO 2 (Rossini 55, Grandoni 75)
PALERMO 4 (Rinaudo 10, Miccoli 23, 37, Amauri 42)

Cavani volleyed a Miccoli free kick against De Lucia and Rinaudo tapped in the rebound. Miccoli doubled Palermo's advantage with a brilliant free kick. Over the next quarter of an hour Palermo created four excellent goalscoring chances, hitting the woodwork twice, before adding an inevitable third when Miccoli played a double one-two with Amauri before bursting into the box and side footing past De Lucia. He returned the favour, crossing a free kick to the back post which the Brazilian acrobatically volleyed into the net. Rossini pulled a goal back after the Palermo defence failed to deal with a long ball. Jimmy ran into the back of Vidigal as he was fouled in the box, the midfielder turned and shot against a post and Grandoni smacked the ball into the net as Jimmy scrambled back.

Attendance : 7,000
Assists : n/a, Miccoli (won fk), Amauri, Miccoli (fk), n/a, n/a


ROMA 3 (Aquilani 17, Giuly 82, Totti 89)
SIENA 0

Totti was presented with the Golden Boot (for ending last season as Europe's top goalscorer) before the match. Aquilani scored his second goal consecutive goal from outside the box, a beautiful, curling first time shot which crashed in off the underside of the crossbar. For a team with serious title ambitions Roma's defence was non existent, they conceded almost as many chances as they created themselves. Giuly put the result beyond doubt when he turned onto a clever Aquilani cross and drilled low into the corner. Perrotta started a counter-attack with a pass out wide to Totti and busted a gut to get forward in support but Totti ignored him, cut inside a defender and slammed home his first goal of the season.

Attendance : 45,000
Assists : Vucinic, Aquilani, Perrotta


TORINO 2 (Rosina 45, Ventola 58)
REGGINA 2 (Amoruso 31, Cozza 90)

Reggina took the lead slightly against the run of play thanks to another blunder from Sereni who pushed an Amoruso volley into his own net. Rosina scored a fantastic equaliser. He collected possession on the half way line and ran between two defenders before playing the ball into Ventola, he touched it back to Recoba, Rosina took the ball of his feet and as he broke into the box vaulted over a red card tackle before shooting wide of Campagnolo. Ventola scored a dodgy second, heading in at the back post from a cross that went out of play. Reggina were awarded an in-direct free kick when Natali kicked Joelson in the face when defending a cross. Cozza, who had only just come on as a sub, fired the ball through a ruck of players to equalise.

Attendance : 20,000
Assists : Lanzaro, Recoba, Lanna, Aronica (fk)


UDINESE 0
NAPOLI 5 (Zalayeta 16, Domizzi 41, Lavezzi 65, Zalayeta 71, Sosa 81)

Lavezzi defied his chubby physique by showing great pace to chase down a long ball, powered through Mesto's challenge and centred for Zalayeta to tap-in. Zalayeta rescued an overhit corner, Blasi hooked the ball over his head and Domizzi volleyed in from six yards. Lavezzi scored a brilliant third, after receiving a pass on the left of the box he checked inside a defender onto his right foot before lashing past Chimenti. Chimenti gifted Napoli a fourth when he failed to hold a Lavezzi centre leaving Zalayeta with a tap-in. The outstanding Lavezzi made the fifth for substitute Sosa although Chimenti was again at fault.

Unbelievable. This is the first time since, yes you guessed it, the days of Maradona that Napoli have scored five goals. 22 year old Lavezzi looks a real talent.

Attendance : 15,000
Assists : Lavezzi, Blasi, Gargano, n/a, Lavezzi


SAMPDORIA 0
LAZIO 0

Attendance : 36,000
Assist : n/a


1 September 2007

EMPOLI 0
INTER 2 (Ibrahimovic 14, 83)

Maicon, the World's best full back, threw stepovers at Antonini but he didn't bite (this isn't the Premier League) so he stepped away from the defender before whipping a left foot cross to the back post where Ibrahimovic was waiting with a volley. Both 'keepers made fine saves from long range shots. Empoli went close to an equaliser before Ibrahimovic finished them off following good work by Figo and a bandaged Cesar.

Attendance : 9,500
Assists : Maicon, Cesar