4 May 2008

ATALANTA 3 (Doni 56, Adriano 59, Padoin 89)
LIVORNO 2 (Rossini 65, Pavan 81)

Doni became Atalanta's all time leading goalscorer when he lobbed Bellini's crossfield pass over Amelia. Brazilian winger Adriano failed to match a fine solo run with a good finish but the normally reliable Amelia literally gave him a helping hand with a limp wristed save. Rossini began the comeback when he tapped into an empty net after Coppola saved from the feet of Tristan. Midfielder Diamanti has impressed in recent weeks and made the equaliser for Pavan with another tremendous cross. Atalanta have nothing to play for and in that situation in Serie A at this late stage both team would normally play out a draw. Coppola and Padoin had other ideas. Coppola sent a booming 70 yard goal-kick out wide to Padoin and the 23 year old embarrassed Amelia with an exquisite lob.

Atalanta ended their four match winless streak but made heavy work of beating rock bottom Livorno who will almost certainly be relegated next week. Amelia didn't have the best of games but should have no problems finding a new club next season. Milan and Roma are in need of a good goalkeeper although Roma are likely to persist with the desperately average Doni.

Attendance : 6,500
Assists : Bellini, Floccari, n/a, Diamanti, Coppola (gk)


CAGLIARI 2 (Jeda 21, Conti 52)
FIORENTINA 1 (Santana 53)

Jeda headed Cagliari into the lead from Fini's corner. Fiorentina came unstuck from another set piece. Matri played the ball back to Cossu after the visitors failed to clear a free kick, he fired at shot at Frey who slapped the ball into the ground and Matri centred to the back post for Conti to double Cagliari's lead. A minute later Santana reduced the arrears from a failed offside trap but it was the home side who kept up the pressure and looked most likely to score. Mutu was booked for jumping into a defender and took his protests too far, talking himself into a second yellow after a minute of moaning.

Cagliari should be safe on 38 points.

Attendance : 18,000
Red Card : Mutu 91 (Fiorentina)
Assists : Fini (ck), Matri, n/a


CATANIA 1 (Martinez 93)
REGGINA 2 (Amoruso 41, Amoruso 90 Pen)

Catania dominated the first half but were kept at bay by Campagnolo who made a string of great saves. Reggina took the lead with their first noteworthy attack, Amoruso flung himself at a cross to score with a spectacular diving header. The second half mirrored the first and having had a second penalty appeal turned down Catania conceded one at the other end when Barreto took up Sardo's invitation to throw himself over the defender's outstretched leg. Amoruso kept his nerve and Martinez scrambled in a late consolation goal.

The result was very hard on Catania. Reggina leapfrog them in the table by a solitary point. They're at home to Empoli in a relegation six pointer next week.

Attendance : 18,000
Assists : Cozza, Barreto (won pen), n/a


EMPOLI 0
UDINESE 1 (Quagliarella 17)

Attendance : 6,700
Assist : D'Agostino


LAZIO 1 (Pandev 25 Pen)
PALERMO 2 (Amauri 82, Amauri 92)

Pandev gave Lazio the lead from the penalty spot after Migliaccio handled in the box. Palermo were awarded a penalty for handball and incredibly Muslera, who has been a monumental flop, saved from Amauri. In the second half however he reverted to type. He went up for a cross and got nowhere near the ball gifting Amauri the equaliser. 10 minutes later the Brazilian headed in the winner from a Miccoli free kick.

Other results went Lazio's way and they are safe due to their superior head to head record against 18th placed Parma. There's still no news on Amauri's application for Italian citizenship. I'm sure they would push through the paperwork if Donadoni dropped hints about calling him up to the Euro 2008 squad.

Attendance : 35,000
Assists : n/a, Balzaretti, Miccoli (fk)


MILAN 2 (Inzaghi 52, Kaka' 55)
INTER 1 (Cruz 75 fk)

Inzaghi should have given Milan a 20th minute lead. Kaka' ran across the Inter defence before finding Pippo with a glorious disguised pass but Julio Cesar was quick off his line to save. Seedorf and Kaka' combined for another chance. Seedorf teased Cambiasso before dropping a pass out wide to Kaka' but Inzaghi inexplicably tried to head his low centre past Julio Cesar but made poor contact and the ball bounced wide of the left post.

From a quickly taken free kick Seedorf made a run towards the right of centre, pulling several players out of position before slipping the ball out wide to Bonera, Kaka' joined him in support and took the defenders pass before jumped over a Materazzi sliding tackle as he whipped a cross to the back post, Inzaghi ghosted past his marker (Rivas) and met the ball with a fantastic flick header. Milan captain Ambrosini caught Vieira dithering in possession and the ball dropped invitingly for Kaka' to score his 15th goal of the season. Having been comprehensively outplayed Inter suddenly got back in the match through what was literally a Cruz missile, the Argentinean curling a free kick into the bottom left corner of Kalac's goal. A nervy Milan hung on for a deserved victory and end a three match derby winless streak.

Equally, if not more important than the result, Milan confirmed Mathieu Flamini was flying into the city tonight to sign a four year contract worth €5.6 million a season. Doubts still remain over Gattuso's future. Milan can claim a Champions League place next week if they beat Napoli in Naples and Fiorentina fail to beat relegation threatened Parma in Florence.

The directors were showing off a new camera angle straight out of PES, a low panoramic view which was particularly impressive on free kicks and when showing the upper tier of the stadium.

Attendance : 81,776
Assists : Kaka', Ambrosini, Cruz (won fk)


PARMA 1 (Lucarelli 58)
GENOA 0

Attendance : 18,590
Assist : Morrone


SAMPDORIA 0
ROMA 3 (Panucci 75, Pizarro 79, Cicinho 84)


Samp dominated for about 74 minutes. They hit the woodwork twice and spurned numerous other chances but it was Roma who made the breakthrough when Panucci met Pizarro's corner with a near post header. Samp quickly fell apart, they backed off as Pizarro received possession 25 yards from goal, he ran to the middle of the D before thumping a right foot shot into the bottom corner. Vucinic unselfishly centred for Cicinho to make it 0-3 on the break.

Attendance : 26,000
Assists : Pizarro (ck), Brighi, Vucinic


SIENA 1 (Kharja 7)
JUVENTUS 0

Attendance : 15,300
Assist : n/a


TORINO 2 (Rosina 27 Pen, Di Michele 56)
NAPOLI 1 (Contini 53)

Rosina gave Torino the lead with a very soft penalty. Contini scrambled in the equaliser from a free kick but Torino hit back immediately. Stellone curled a brilliant pass around a defender sending Di Michele clear and he displayed his trademark composure to finish and put Torino within 3 points or most likely within a week of safety.

Attendance : 20,000
Assists : Di Michele (won pen), Santacroce, Stellone