LIVORNO 2-2 PALERMO A Lucarelli 59 Toni 26, 63 Passoni 73
Brienza headed on Grosso's cross leaving Toni with a tap-in. Zaccardo was sent off for a second bookable offence. Lucarelli scrambled in the equaliser after Palermo failed to clear from a corner then inadvertently helped on Grosso's long ball and Toni finished superbly with a firm toe poke. Passoni beat Guardalden with an excellent low shot from distance to grab an unlikely share of the points.
Di Livio played for Fiorentina! I believe this was his first start this season. Viali headed on Donadel's free kick and Pazzini stabbed the ball over at the far post. Franceschini floored Pazzini with an elbow to the nose, drawing blood but Morganti failed to award a penalty. There should be a new ruling, if you break someone's nose in the box it's a penalty. Odobo hurdled Pavarini as he went for the ball and got nowhere near it, this time the ref pointed to the spot. Miccoli converted and Fiorentina had to endure a nervous final ten minutes after Colucci blasted in from 30 yards.
INTER 2-1 LECCE Cordoba 26 Pinardi 21 Adriano 89 (Pen)
Inter had already wasted several chances when Pinardi gave Lecce the lead at the second attempt after his initial shot was pushed straight back at him by Carini. Cordoba headed in the equaliser from a Mihajlovic corner. Inter were creating chances at will but a combination of awful finishing and superb goalkeeping kept them at bay. Had Lecce managed to get more possession they could have easily scored a second as Carini was dropping everything. Angelo pissed away a point when he kicked Cruz in the ribs. Adriano scored his first goal since December from the penalty spot. I believe he's missed the last two penalties he's taken.
Bonera beat Esposito to Zola's cross but unfortunately for him headed into his own net. I so hope Juve sign Bonera next season, he's Panucci level useless. Gilardino, arguably the best finisher in the game today, turned onto Bresciano's centre, rode a tackle and tapped the ball into the corner. Gilardino headed on Bresciano's corner and Bovo connected with a diving header. Morfeo came within inches of scoring one of the greatest goals of all time. Gilardino stole the ball off a defender and passed into Morfeo, with his back to goal he flicked the ball up, performed a kick up then hit a back heel volley which rebounded off a post. Frey was sent off for bringing down Swayze. Frey should hit the gym in his week off because he's fat. Bucci came on for Morfeo. Bianchi headed on a cross, Swayze took the ball on his chest before drilling into the bottom corner. Substitute Simplico pulled down Gilardino's cross, beat a defender and hit a FANTASTIC shot from 30 yards right into the top corner. What a goal, what a match.
Serie A at it's best, fast paced with high levels of technique and stunning goals. I'm not sure how much Milan have paid for Gilardino (between e6-8 million) but he's worth 4x that.
SIENA 2-3 BRESCIA Chiesa 53 Di Biagio 40 Maccarone 90 Caracciolo 45 Mannini 74
Di Biagio gave Brescia the lead with a superb header from Wome's corner. Di Biagio helpedon a hopeful punt into the box, Caracciolo was alone as the Siena defence appealed for offside and hammered the ball into the bottom corner. Manninger launched a ball about 80 yards, it bounced on the edge of the box and Chiesa smashed a right foot volley in off the post, brilliant finish. Siena took control but were hit on the break, Mannini left with an easy finish from Stankevicius' centre. Maccarone scored a last minute consolation goal after D'Aversa's deflected shot landed at his feet.
ATALANTA 1-2 MILAN Makinwa 73 Ambrosini 71 Pirlo 94
This was one of the most entertaining matches involving Milan in some time, largely because Atalanta went for it instead of playing shithead football. Bernardini's free kick struck the inside of a post and Nesta should have been sent off for hauling down Makinwa by his shirt as he ran in on goal. Ambrosini headed Milan into the lead from Pirlo's free kick and Makinwa equalised in the same fashion two minutes later. Lazzari wasted a great chance to give Atalanta the lead, shooting straight at Dida from Makinwa's pass. Ambrosini chested down a cross but shot wide. If he was as good with his feet as he is with his head he'd be a striker. Makinwa was booked for trying to punch the ball into his own net. Tomasson bounced a fantastic pass from Pirlo on his hest before leaping in the air and hitting an overhead kick, forcing Calderoni into making a great save. Makinwa, who has extraordinary pace, shot his hamstrings with all the running andhad to be stretchered off with cramp. Inzaghi, on as a 77th minute substitute for Crespo, forced Calderoni into a save after Ambrosini headed on a throw in, Pirlo blasted in the loose ball to give Milan another lastminute.com victory.
ROMA 1-2 JUVENTUS Cassano 39 Cannavaro 11 Del Piero 44 (Pen)
Emerson made a fantastic block from Ferrari after Buffon parried a free kick. Without Nedved all Juve have is set pieces fortunately for them Camoranesi's delivery of a dead ball is just about as good as anyones. Ibrahimovic was standing in an offside position when he connected with the midfielder's free kick, Pelizzoli saved and Cannavaro headed in the rebounded. While Racalbuto can't be blamed for that decision his officiating during the rest of the match was an absolute disgrace. How Roma ended the match with 11 men is a mystery. Totti jumped into Zebina as he cleared and Dacourt also should have been sent off for an appalling challenge on Blasi. Having taken a break from trying to maim their opponents Roma scored a wonderful equaliser. Cassano played a ball into Totti and he hit a fabulous through pass, scything through the Juve defence, Cassano shot first time, gently pushing the ball past Buffon. Zalayeta dived in or around the penalty area under a 'challenge' from Dellas. Cufre gave Del Piero a slap in the face for converting.
Despite their superior possession Roma failed to trouble Buffon, largely because of an outstanding defensive display by the visitors.
The Football Scholar wrote:> Benny wrote:> > Bonera beat Esposito to Zola's cross but unfortunately for him headed> into his> > own net. I so hope Juve sign Bonera next season, he's Panucci level> useless.>
I can't understand how or why this Serie B level talent is so highly> rated to the point that he actually starts for the national team. If> he's good enough for Milan or Juve then either the World has gone mad> or I have.
Catenaccio wrote:> The Football Scholar wrote:>> Benny wrote:>>> Bonera beat Esposito to Zola's cross but unfortunately for him>>> headed into his own net. I so hope Juve sign Bonera next season,>>> he's Panucci level useless.>>
I can't understand how or why this Serie B level talent is so highly>> rated to the point that he actually starts for the national team. If>> he's good enough for Milan or Juve then either the World has gone mad>> or I have.>
I'd much prefer Bovo or Bazargli.
I'm absolutely not convinced by Bovo, maybe I have watched the wrong matches, but he looked shaky in every Parma game I've seen this season, and it wasn't much different last year at Lecce.
