Two weeks in and criminal refereeing rears it's ugly head. First Udinese pull off
an away win despite the efforts of the ref to hand victory to the home team on
a plate for two sickening dives by Signori and in the Inter V Piacenza match.
Highly fancied Parma and Lazio are still looking for their first win and the dream
attack of Vieri and Salas have yet to score a goal.

20 September 1998

BOLOGNA 			1-3	 		UDINESE
Kolyvanov 63 (pen)					Amoroso 14, 44 (pen)
Walem 85

Amoroso gave Udinese a two goal lead, the first a header from Walem's cross and
the second a penalty which he won himself. Mangone was sent off for stamping on
Locatelli. Signori then won two penalties with disgraceful dives, the first was put
away by Kolyvanov but thankfully Simutenkov's spot kick was saved. Shameful,
cowardly home biased refereeing. Walem volleyed in Navas's cross.

Attendance : 30,000
Red Card(s) : Mangone (Bologna)


EMPOLI				0-0			ROMA

Gautieri's spectacular dive won him a penalty. Di Biagio, aiming to make up for
the crucial penalty miss in the World Cup against France had his shot saved.

Attendance : 11,804


JUVENTUS			1-0			CAGLIARI
Inzaghi 8

Inzaghi ran onto Tacchinardi's through ball to give Juve the 3 points. Inzaghi
missed a relatively easy chance and Tacchinardi flashed a shot past the post.
Cagliari blew two chances to equalise in the second half.

Attendance : 50,000


LAZIO				0-0			BARI

Mancini kept Lazio at bay with some superb saves but Bari created the best chance
when Zambrotta's fiercely struck shot forced Marchegiani into a great save. Vieri
peppered Bari's goal but didn't come close to scoring, Salas missed an admittedly
difficult volley in the first half but was otherwise  anonymous.

Attendance : 40,000


SALERNITANA			1-2			MILAN
Breda 88						Bierhoff 67
							Leonardo 87

The game came to life midway through the first half, Di Viao crashed a shot
against the crossbar and Milan charged down the other end and Weah was denied
what would have been a brilliant scissor kick by an equally brilliant save. Bierhoff
and Guly missed overhead kick attempts following good work by Ba and Weah.
Lehmann pulled off a miracle save from Giacomo Tedesco's close range effort.
Guly's shot hit the crossbar at the end of the first half. Bierhoff headed in
Albertini's free kick. Weah blew a one on one with the 'keeper, Di Viao had a goal
disallowed for offside, Bierhoff also missed a one on one with the 'keeper before
Leonardo inadvertently made it 2-0 when Weah's volley deflected off his shoulder.
Breda curled in a Beckham special (free kick) but Milan held on for the W. 

Special credit must go to Ba for his tremendous tackling back in midfield.
Ambrosini also pressed brilliantly but his passing needs work. Defensively Milan
looked pretty solid with a back three this time comprising of N'Gotty, Maldini and
Costacurta. Maldini and Costacurta gave their best performances in years.

Attendance : 39,000


SAMPDORIA			1-1			PERUGIA
Laigle 21						Olive 48

A one touch passing move involving Laigle, Ortega and Montella was finished off
by Laigle shooting into the net, beautiful goal. Rapaic curled in a shot from the
edge of the box at the start of the second half. Ortega won a penalty with a
spectacular dive but Montella blasted wide, something like his 6-7 penalty miss
in the past two seasons.


VENEZIA				0-0			PARMA

Parma showed up in their horrid new yellow kit and forced Venezia's 'keeper into
making 0 saves. 3 games (2 league one UEFA Cup) and no goals. Parma's
impotence upfront is developing into a crisis.


VICENZA				1-2			FIORENTINA
Padalino 68 (og)						Batistuta 1
Oliveira 71

Batistuta, sporting a ridiculous elastic hairband, headed in Oliveira's corner.
Padalino did the first Norman Wisdom impression of the season when he fresh air
kicked and then handballed Schenardi's speculative shot past his own keeper Toldo.
Rui Costa attempted to play in Batistuta, the ball clipped of Batman's feet and fell
to Oliveira who scored his first of the season. Di Napoli had a goal disallowed for
offside, last season Vicenza had more goals disallowed than any other team in
Serie A. Toldo was excellent in goal for Fiorentina. 

Attendance : 16,000


INTER				1-0			PIACENZA
Ronaldo 65 (pen)

Pirlo ran into the box, lost balance and as stumbled onto the floor raised his hands,
ask and you shall receive, the ref gave a penalty and Ronaldo converted.