SERIE A ROUND 17
 
IT'S JUVE AT HALF-WAY

Juve finish top at the half way stage. Lazio are screwed out of two penalties
at Reggina. Torino end a run of six successive defeats with victory over
Piacenza.

15 JANUARY 2000

VENEZIA				2-1			FIORENTINA
Volpi 13							Batistuta 46
Maniero 94

Toldo made a fantastic block from Berg's ferocious volley, Pierini's
clearance fell straight to Volpi who blasted Venezia into the lead from
20yds. Batistuta equalised at the end of the first half with an easy header
from Tarozzi's cross.

Maniero did a Bierhoff falling over his feet with an open goal at his mercy.
Toldo made two excellent saves to keep out Budan. Volpi chipped a ball into
the box and Maniero struck a low first time shot past Toldo.

Red Card(s) : Firicano 92 (Fiorentina)
Attendance : 9,598


BOLOGNA			1-0			BARI
Signori 88

Ingesson headed against the crossbar from Signori's corner. Pagliuca
punched Collauto's free kick straight to Spinesi whose shot bounced off the
inside of the post. Fontolan headed inches wide from a throw in. Signori
gave Bologna the points with an excellent first time strike from Ze Elias's
cross.


16 JANUARY 2000

INTER				2-1			CAGLIARI
Simic 3							Oliveira 17
Moriero 83

Simic headed in Seedorf's cross. Mayele flicked on De Patre's cross to
Oliveira, Blanc and Cauet ran out to play offside but Simic played him on,
1-1.

Scarpi made an unbelievable save from Di Biagio's deflected shot. Mayele was
sent off for diving. Another great save by Scarpi this time from Zamorano's
header. Zamorano prevented the ball from going out for a corner, hooked it
back, Cauet let it bounce and Moriero slammed a half volley inside Scarpi's
post.

Red Card(s) : Mayele 81 (Cagliari)
Attendance : 56,000


JUVENTUS			3-0			PERUGIA
Del Piero 26 (Pen)
Zidane 89
Kovacevic 93

Inzaghi played a one two with Del Piero, grabbed hold of Monaco's neck and
fell to the ground, Juve were at home so obvious penalty. Del Piero
converted. Del Piero volleyed over and Zambrotta went close twice then Juve
bored everyone to death until 6 minutes from time. Zidane curled in a free
kick and Kovacevic tapped in a rebound after Mazzantini had brilliantly
saved a fantastic strike by Tacchinardi. Awful match.

Attendance : 40,000


LECCE				0-0			PARMA

Lima headed wide from a cross and Lucarelli shot high over the bat when he
was gifted a chance by a mix-up between Thuram and Cannavaro. It appeared
as if neither team managed a shot on target. Parma were without Flu victims
Ortega and Amoroso.

Attendance : 17,397


PIACENZA			0-2			TORINO
							Ferrante 82
							Pecchia 90


Torino ended their miserable run of form with a surprise victory over
Piacenza. A miserable first touch by Mazzola prevented him from a clear
shot on goal. Rastelli evaded two defenders in the box but shot straight at
Bucci. Lentini headed on Brambilla's free kick, Ferrante headed the ball
past Roma. Lucarelli was sent off for a cynical foul on Sommese. Polonia
should have been sent off for a cowardly elbow to the back of Sommese's
head. I'm sure he'll get done by the Italian FA. Sacchetti weakly headed out
a throw in, Pecchia fired the ball past Roma. Sommese wasted a great chance
for Torino late on but it didn't matter. Incredibly Torino find a team even
dirtier than they are.

Red Card(s) : Lucarelli 92 (Piacenza)
Attendance : 10,000


REGGINA			0-0			LAZIO

Lazio should have been awarded a penalty when Taibi steamed out of his goal
and flattened Mancini of course Mancini made the most of the challenge which
didn't help.

Lazio had another penalty claim turned down at the start of the second half,
Morabito went into the back of Inzaghi. Boksic came on for Veron. Simeone
had a goal disallowed for offside, Mihajlovic blasted a free kick well over
the bar. Taibi made a great save (!) from Mancini's volley. Boksic played
in Simeone with a great reverse pass but the Argentinean idiotically dived
instead of shooting.

Attendance : 24,041


ROMA				3-1			VERONA
Totti 1, 42						Salvetti 19
Apolloni 7 (og)

"Nakata Made In Japan" great sign! Totti crossed into the box and everyone
watched the ball bounce into the net, incredibly bad defending. The
commentators credited the goal to Montella but it didn't appear as if he got
a touch. Apolloni then took a leaf out of Calori's book and scored a fabulous
own goal, superbly chipping over Frey. Brocchi intercepted Zago's header
passed to Salvetti and he placed the ball past Antonioli. Frey saved twice
from Totti, the second a brilliant save with his feet. He was helpless as
Totti rose to head in Montella's cross. Frey then made what has to be a 
candidate for save of the season to tip over a shot from Nakata. Typically
Roma stopping trying in the second half. Marasco smashed a shot against the
post.

Attendance : 55,399


UDINESE			1-2			MILAN
Muzzi 86							Boban 40
							Shevchenko 60

Muzzi headed on a fantastic cross by Fiore but a miserable first touch by
Sosa prevented Udinese from taking the lead. The Udinese defence cleared a
corner, Boban flicked up the ball, turned and smashed a volley towards goal,
Turci tipped over. Rossi made the first of many great saves to claw out
Sottil's header. Boban sprayed the ball wide to Guly on the left wing, he
crossed to Shevchenko, his attempted back heel was blocked by Manfredini
bounced off Boban and crept into the net. In keeping with Milan's Sunday
league defending they almost gifted Udinese an immediate equaliser. Rossi
punched out Jorgensen's cross, the ball rebounded off Helveg into Rossi's
arms.

Shevchenko ran onto an excellent hooked pass from De Ascentis, held off
Zamboni and shot past Turci. Again Milan almost gifted Udinese an instant
reply but Rossi made another brilliant save to keep out Manfredini's drive.
Milan continued to spring Udinese's abysmal offside trap, Shevchenko raced
onto Giunti's through pass and in attempting to round Turci put the ball out
of play. Muzzi should have been sent off for kicking Helveg. Muzzi turned
Sala on the edge of the area but shot wide. Muzzi was booked for diving in
the box. Shevchenko wasted another present from Udinese's offside trap,
placing his shot pathetically wide with only Turci to beat. Fiore played in
Muzzi with a fabulous through pass and he poked the ball past Rossi.
Bierhoff wasted two chances, the second particularly gruesome as Milan
held on.

Fiore was absolutely fantastic. He could definitely solve a lot of problems
for Italy in midfield.

Attendance : 25,000