Serie A Midweek Round-Up:
Cagliari 1 - 0 Atalanta
Atalanta will rue ineffectual play as an Acquafresca penalty gave Caglairi all three points, and a vital leg-up in their bid to avoid relegation.
After a spirited opening, the hosts eventually earned a penalty as Pellegrino tore down Acquafresca in the box, with the youngster converting his own spot kick.
While the Bergamese had most of the chances heading into the second half, they were often restricted to long-range efforts, which Storari dealt with admirably.Eventually, the visitors' challenge withered after Carrozzieri's late sending-off, and the Sardinians controlled the game with ease until its conclusion.
Catania 0 - 0 Siena
A draw was perhaps the fairest result on Sicily as these two sides fought out a largely even game. There was little action to speak of in the first period, but heading into the second, Tedesco crossed for Mascara, who really should have done better with his header when faced with Manninger in the visitors' goal.Siena tried to hit back through Maccarone, but the journeyman saw his long-range effort saved by Polito.
Rossettini had to clear off the line for Robur minutes later, with Manninger nowhere, and it seemed as if this was one of those games destined to end goalless, which indeed it did.
Empoli 0 - 0 Juventus
A lack of the final ball let Juventus down in deepest Tuscany, where Empoli were well worth their point in the end.
The hosts did little by way of attacking, but grew more confident in defending as the match went on. Early on, though, they found themselves foxed by the likes of Zebina, but Juve just couldn't make anything of their possession.Indeed, as the game went on, neither 'keeper was overly busy, and a goalless draw was unpreventable.
Genoa 1 - 1 Inter
Inter couldn't make their early advantage count as they dropped two points on the coast.
Suazo's early goal seemed set to open the floodgates, but Pele's sending-off just before half time tipped things in Genoa's favour.
Both sides were to have their chances in an active second period, but when Borriello acrobatically fired home Julio Cesar's parry from Juric's shot, things were level.
Thus they stayed, and Inter sweated on goings-on in Rome...
Livorno 1 - 1 Reggina
Livorno passed up several chances to bury the game against the Calabrians, who held on to take a point.
In fact, they had the ball in the net first, as Modesto's fine run down the left eventually culminated in a cross for Brienza, who did not disappoint in the finish.But the Amaranto had the best of the second period, and the only surprise was that they managed just the one goal. That came from the head of Bogdani, who succeeded where others - such as De Vezze and Galante - failed.
Milan 1 - 2 Sampdoria
Goals from Christian Maggio and Gennaro Delvecchio gave Sampdoria the win at San Siro.
In an active opening spell, Maggio took advantage of some poor defending to get on the end of Sammarco's through ball.
Ten minutes later, Seedorf's inability to retain possession saw Delvecchio go one-on-one with Kalac, and emerge as the victor.
Even Paloschi's second-half strike couldn't dent the visitors' resolve, and thus the rossoneri were down and out.
Napoli 2 - 0 Fiorentina
The Viola were outplayed - and perhaps lacked luck - at the San Paolo against Napoli.Mutu in fact had the first fine chance of the game as he charged through the middle, but Santacroce got down low to save.
The 'keeper's tenacity was rewarded 23 minutes in when Lavezzi opened the scoring. The forward was able to capitalise after Mannini dispossesed the careless Pasqual and played the ball across for him to beat Frey from clow-range.Fiorentina then had a Mutu strike chalked off for a foul on Calaio by Ujfalusi, and no sooner had that been cleared up than Lavezzi doubled his side's advantage after a corner.
After the break, Mutu would have been left wondering exactly what he had to do to score after he headed Ujfalusi's cross off the woodwork, but Napoli were to have the best of it heading into the closing stages.
The best, that is, but for one chance, and one that summed up the Viola's evening. After Papa Waigo played the ball across goal, Mutu and Cacia ended up running into each other and thus wasting a fine chance to pull one back.
Parma 2 - 1 Palermo
A late, late goal from Budan gave Parma an absolutely vital win against Palermo, who were second best on the night.
The Ducali started well, but coach Hector Cuper had to shuffle his pack 27 minutes in after Mariga's red card.
But whatever change he made paid off as Gasbarroni crossed for Budan to head in at the far post just after the break.
Simplicio played Cavani through for the equaliser soon afterwards, and it looked as though the ten-men hosts were set for more heartbreak.
But Dessena won a penalty right at the death, and Budan converted to send the fans wild.
Torino 0 - 0 Udinese
Torino arguably deserved a draw, but a little piece of class saw Udinese's fine run continue.After 25 minutes, Pepe hit an absolutely tremendous free-kick goalwards to open the scoring, and Torino were now on the back foot.They had a decent penalty claim denied a few minute slater, and a goal chalked off 20 minutes from time: that was controversial, for Stellone, who beat Handanovic with a precise finish, was actually onside from Rosina's pass; Di Michele was not, but was he active?
In any case, Udinese weathered the storm and left with three points.
Lazio 3 - 2 Roma
Nothing else has gone right for them this season, but Lazio at least managed a close-fought win in a thrilling Rome derby.
Taddei scored with arguably the first clear-cut chance of the game half an hour in, although how much he knew about it is debatable. The buildup with Perrotta and Vucinic was good, but in fact the Brazilian netted thanks to a deflection from Behrami's attempted clearance.
Just before the break, though, Pandev equalised after getting on the end of Kolarov's low cross at the back post.
Roma had the ball in the net just after the break, but Totti's effort was correctly ruled out for offside. Indeed, Lazio were to score next as Rocchi beat Doni from the penalty spot.
Minutes later, though, Vucinic fed the ball to Totti, who in turn provided Perrotta with possession in the box, and he made no mistake with a cool finish.But right at the death, Lazio sealed an incredible win as Behrami netted from ten yards.
Week 29 19/3/08
AC Milan 1 - 2 Sampdoria
Cagliari 1 - 0 Atalanta
Catania 0 - 0 Siena
Empoli 0 - 0 Juventus
Genoa 1 - 1 Inter Milan
Livorno 1 - 1 Reggina
Napoli 2 - 0 Fiorentina
Parma 2 - 1 Palermo
Torino 0 - 1 Udinese
Lazio 3 - 2 AS Roma
Inter Milan 68 29 20 8 1
Roma 61 29 18 7 4
Juventus 55 29 15 10 4
Fiorentina 50 29 14 8 7
Milan 46 29 12 10 7
Sampdoria 45 29 13 6 10
Udinese 44 29 12 8 9
Atalanta 37 29 9 10 10
Lazio 37 29 9 10 10
Napoli 36 29 10 6 13
Palermo 36 29 9 9 11
Genoa 36 29 9 9 11
Siena 32 29 7 11 11
Torino 31 29 5 16 8
Parma 29 29 6 11 12
Catania 28 29 6 10 13
Livorno 28 29 6 10 13
Reggina 26 29 5 11 13
Empoli 26 29 6 8 15
Cagliari 24 29 7 6 16
Top Scorers
M. Borriello Genoa 17
D. Trezeguet Juventus 16
Z. Ibrahimovic Inter Milan 15
A. Mutu Fiorentina 15
F. Totti Roma 13
A. Di Natale Udinese 13
11-03-2008, 11:11 AM
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