29 November 2009

CATANIA 0
MILAN 2 (Huntelaar 93, Huntelaar 95)

Inzaghi replaced the ineffective Borriello and Leonardo's last throw of the dice was the substitution of Mathieu 'red card waiting to happen' Flamini for Huntelaar. 10 minutes later Milan broke the deadlock in what had been until that point a crushingly boring game of football. Huntelaar headed on a Seedorf longball to Inzaghi, Inzaghi flicked the ball back and Huntelaar took two steps forward before blasting a left foot shot straight at Andujar who failed to hold. If Huntelaar's first goal was fortuitous the second, which followed 20 seconds after the restart, was pure Klass. Huntelaar volleyed Pato's header to Inzaghi, as two defenders closed him down the ball broke to Huntelaar, he turned away from the edge of the D, touched the ball to his right and from just inside the box clipped an awesome lob, which his right foot, over Andujar into the left corner. The full time whistle followed seconds later and he was mobbed by his team-mates.

When Van Basten joined Milan back in 1987 he struggled to adapt and was deemed a flop until he scored what proved to be a goal that changed the course of history in an epic 2-3 victory over Napoli. Huntelaar of course is no Van Basten but his two goals could also prove to be the turning point in his Milan career. There has been a lot of talk of Inzaghi and Gattuso leaving Milan in recent weeks, and I expect both will leave, but the one player who really needs to go is the lethargic Borriello. Milan's attacks come to a grinding halt at his feet, regardless of his strength in the air.

Attendance : 20,000
Assists : Inzaghi, Inzaghi


ATALANTA 1 (Ceravolo 13)
ROMA 2 (Vucinic 44, Perrotta 64)

Both teams had early chances but Atalanta took theirs. Guarante released Ceravolo with a ball down the left, he cut inside Juan before shooting into the bottom right corner. Having threatened from a succession of set pieces Roma finally equalised when Vucinic, who has grown back his beard, headed in a corner and in the second half made the winner with an excellent cross to Perrotta.

Attendance : 13,000
Assists : Guarante, Pizarro (ck), Vucinic


BARI 2 (Masiello 79, Greco 93)
SIENA 1 (Vergassola 3)

Vergassola got between three defenders and threw himself at Jarolim's cross to give Siena the lead. Masiello beat Curci at his near post with a low drive after Siena failed to clear a corner. In injury time Agomeri got down the wing, swung in a centre and Greco stretched to turn the ball past Curci.

Attendance : 15,400
Assists : Jarolim, n/a, Agomeri


CAGLIARI 2 (Nene 31, Matri 89)
JUVENTUS 0

Biondini won a free kick 35 yards from goal, as soon as the ref whistled he passed to Nene who let rip with a right foot shot which flew over Buffon into the top right corner. Ferrara throw on Del Piero and Giovinco in the second half but Cagliari defended valiantly before whacking the Bianconeri on the break. Matri nutmegged the wretched, overrated, hacker Cannavaro as he ran in on goal before slotting past Buffon.

Just when you thought it couldn't get worse for Juve next up are Inter in the league and Bayern in Europe. In terms of flop of the season Diego and Huntelaar are now dead even.

Attendance : 21,000
Assists : Biondini (fk), Pisano


CHIEVO 1 (Abbruscato 54)
PALERMO 0

Attendance : 18,000
Red Card : Liverani 91 (Palermo)
Assists : n/a


INTER 1 (Milito 85 Pen)
FIORENTINA 0

Attendance : 48,000
Assists : Milito (won pen)


LAZIO 0
BOLOGNA 0

Attendance : 20,000
Assists : n/a


PARMA 1 (Amoruso 86 Pen)
NAPOLI 1 (Denis 33)

Parma goalkeeper Mirante literally handed Napoli the lead when he failed to hold a Denis snapshot. Aronica pulled down Lanzafame to concede a penalty. Contini talked himself into a second yellow for protesting and Amoruso sent De Sanctis the wrong way.

Attendance : 20,097
Red Card : Contini 84 (Napoli 84)
Assists : Maggio, Lanzafame (won pen)


28 November 2009

UDINESE 2 (Di Natale 29, Floro Flores 38)
LIVORNO 0

Di Natale's 10th goal of the season was a superb free kick. In form Floro Flores finished off Livorno with a header from a Lukovic cross.

Attendance : 13,000
Assists : Inler (won fk), Lukovic


GENOA 3 (Milanetto 10 Pen, Rossi 53, Palladino 75 Pen)
SAMPDORIA 0

Palacio went down under minimal contact from Stankevicius to win a penalty. Genoa hit the woodwork twice in a dominant first half. A charitable handball decision saw Genoa reduced to ten men but they doubled their lead nonetheless. Rossi controlled Milanetto's fantastic crossfield pass before firing through Castelazzi's legs. Juric's theatrics earned Sampdoria's Marco Rossi (both teams have players named Marco Rossi) a second yellow. Ziegler floored Papastathopoulos to concede another penalty, Palladino converted and Cacciatore become the third player to be shown a red for a foul on Floccari.

Attendance : 36,000
Red Cards : Biava 45 (Genoa), Rossi 68 (Sampdoria), Cacciatore 88 (Sampdoria)
Assists : Palacio (won pen), Milanetto, Papastathopoulos (won pen)