MILAN DEFEAT JUVE, LAZIO TRIUMPH IN ROME DERBY

Shevchenko ends Juve's 22 match unbeaten run. Veron wins the Rome derby
for Lazio. Inter fall to Lecce. Parma get back into the Champions League
picture (probably briefly) and Verona move out of the relegation zone by
hammering Torino.

25 MARCH 2000

MILAN				2-0			JUVENTUS
Shevchenko 44, 84

Juve should have taken the lead following treacherous play by Maldini. Facing
his own goal, he had a quick look and despite the fact that he could see
Inzaghi was lurking, attempted a back pass to Abbiati, Abbiati charged out
of his goal but Inzaghi beat him to the ball only to shoot wide. Jose Mari
volleyed inches wide, Zidane volleyed straight at Abbiati. Helveg chipped a
cross into the box, Van der Sar poorly attempted to punch the ball but missed
and Shevchenko headed in. Del Piero went looking for a penalty, Inzaghi
volleyed over.

Costacurta turned Zambrotta's cross against the post. Shevchenko played a one
two with Gattuso, burst into the box and then threw himself down when tackled
by Birindelli. Replays showed Birindelli won the ball but stupidly appeared to
follow through. Shevchenko sent Van der Sar the wrong way. Abbiati made a
fantastic claim from the feet of Inzaghi and nearly kicked Sala's head of his
shoulders when catching a high ball.

As in the Rome derby there were lots of dirty fouls missed by the ref but
caught on camera. Maldini should have been dismissed for going through on
Inzaghi and Davids for an over the top challenge on Albertini. Abbiati didn't
have many shots to save but his decision making was excellent, the work with
Milan's goalkeeping coach appears to have paid off.


26 MARCH 2000

BOLOGNA			2-1			UDINESE
Signori 28						Muzzi 67
Nervo 30

Pagliuca brilliantly saved from Sosa. Andersson and Ingesson flicked on
Nervo's cross and Signori smashed the ball past Turci. Anderson headed on
another cross, this time from Paramatti, Nervo chested the ball down and
struck a sweet volley past Turci. Ingesson headed wide, Turci made a
phenomenal save from a Paramatti header. Muzzi pulled a goal back but
Pagliuca keep hold of the three points by making an excellent save from
Fiore. Paramatti and Sottil were sent off for a girly bitch slap fight but
Sottil started it!

Red Cards : Paramatti 89 (Bologna), Sottil 89 (Udinese)

Attendance : 28,000


CAGLIARI			2-3			PARMA
Berretta 52						Fuser 2
De Patre 62						Amoroso 4
							Stanic 80

Fuser met Crespo's cross to slide Parma into the lead and Amoruso headed
in another Crespo cross, this time from the right flank. Mboma controlled a
deep cross off his chest and played in Berretta with an outrageous flick,
Berretta brilliantly volleyed past Buffon. Berretta headed against the post,
Oliveira also went close before De Patre scored the equaliser with a
beautiful looping header from O'Neill's cross. Dabo launched a ball upfield
for Crespo, he ran through Zebina, despite being fouled and then completed
his hat-trick of assists with a pass to Stanic. Not one of Scarpi's best
games.

Attendance : 18,000


LAZIO				2-1			ROMA
Nedved 25						Montella 2
Veron 28

Even before Montella gave Roma the lead Delvecchio wasted a great chance
inches from the goal-line, shooting straight at Marchegiani. Montella met
Totti's fantastic cross with a brave volley. Nedved threw himself over
Lupatelli but credit to the ref for not awarding a penalty. Inzaghi
brilliantly turned on Pancaro's cross and Nedved finished at the second
attempt thanks to Zago. Veron gave Lazio the lead with a fabulous free kick,
the best I've seen this season. Marchegiani fell awkwardly when colliding
with Montella in the box, Totti headed goalwards but Negro cleared off the
line.

Ballotta came on in place of Marchegiani, Lazio better hope it's not a serious
injury. Inzaghi did his usual penalty winning routine to no avail. Conceicao
slipped when clean through on goal. Delvecchio shot straight at Ballotta from
a brilliant Totti through pass. Simeone headed wide.

Lots of dirty off the ball fouls in this match. Roma had more of the play in
the second half but couldn't find a way through. Roma fans tried to torch
their own stadium but the brain surgeons hadn't figured out that concrete
doesn't burn easily.

Attendance : 70,000


LECCE				1-0			INTER
Sesa 23

Chimenti made an awesome save from Cauet's drive. Blanc brought down Sesa
on the edge of the box, Lima made a dummy run and Sesa blasted a free
kick high into the net. Chimenti dropped a cross but Blanc blasted the
rebound against Viali's arse. Balleri made a fantastic tackle to deny
Recoba a goal.

Lippi sent on Vieri at the start of the second half. He headed over a Recoba
cross. Chimenti continued to frustrate Inter, making saves from Recoba
and the unfortunate Vieri who almost broke his neck when bravely or
stupidly challenging for a cross. He also seemed to pull a thigh muscle.
It's just not his season, he tries too hard and in doing so injures himself.
Another desperate performance by Inter. Their midfield is a mess.

Attendance : 29,000


PERUGIA				1-2			FIORENTINA
Rapajc 14						Batistuta 7
							Chiesa 69

Mazzantini gifted Fiorentina the lead with a rare mistake, he spilled 
Di Livio's tame shot and despite having an open goal to aim for Mijatovic
struck the post but Batistuta tapped in. Rapajc raced onto an awesome
through pass by Milanese and chipped the ball over Toldo. Great finish.
Fiorentina were awarded a penalty when Mazzantini drop kicked Rui Costa,
Mijatovic's pathetic penalty was easily saved. Ripa and Torozzi challenged
for Di Livio's cross, they both missed but Chiesa didn't. Rapajc almost
snapped the crossbar with a free kick, Batistuta also struck the crossbar
and Mazzantini made a fabulous save from Torozzi.

Attendance : 15,000


PIACENZA			2-2			VENEZIA
Gilardino 3, 81						Valtolina 5
							Berg 12

Gilardino blasted Piacenza into the lead following a failed offside trap.
Roma messed up a cross and Valtolina tapped into an empty net. Awful
defending from a corner gifted Venezia their second goal, Mazzola's
attempted clearance hit Berg, he sold Roma with a subtle dummy before
lifting the ball into an empty net. Bilica took the full brunt of Delli
Carri's free kick. Both sides wasted tons of chances before Girardino got
a boot to Piovani's cross and the ball went in off a post.

Attendance : 7,000


REGGINA			1-0			BARI
Kallon 25

Cester headed on Morabito's cross and Kallon volleyed past Mancini. Bari
sent everyone up for a free kick, Reggina cleared, Kallon was on his way
but was tackled by Mancini who ran from his goal and past the half way
line! The ball fell to Reggina but by this time Bari got players back and
pushed up for offside. Bizarre! Neqrouz volleyed wide. 


Attendance : 24,200


TORINO				0-3			VERONA
							Melis 18
							Cammarata 34, 40

Torino should have been awarded a penalty when Laursen scythed through Lentini
in the box. Melis fired Verona into the lead with a brilliantly placed finish
from Cammarata's cross. Sommese shot against the post and Lentini made a mess
of the rebound. Cammarata headed Italiano's long ball against the crossbar
and then headed in the rebound and added a second following strong running
from Salvetti. Brocchi cracked a shot off the post, Ivic headed against the
crossbar.

Red Cards : Mendez 72 (Torino),  Lentini 73 (Torino)