Italian Calcio Serie A 2009/2010

[abadani69]

Brief reports from Serie A matches played on Sunday:

FIORENTINA 5 CAGLIARI 1

Fiorentina struck in the third minute with a Riccardo Montolivo effort from outside the area. Michele Fini equalised three minutes later.

The home side then went on a rampage with midfielder Mario Santana and Romania striker Adrian Mutu scoring two each. Basement club Cagliari, who had to reject coach Nedo Sonetti's resignation last week after former boss Marco Giampaolo turned down an offer to return, have not won since September.

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INTER MILAN 2 AC MILAN 1

Andrea Pirlo put Milan in ahead in the 18th minute when he found the top corner with a free kick from the edge of the box.

The champions levelled in the 36th thanks to Cruz, who controlled an Esteban Cambiasso pass and drove the ball home despite the attention of three defenders.

Cambiasso decided the derby in the 63rd minute, scoring with a shot from outside the box that deceived Brazilian keeper Dida.

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JUVENTUS 2 SIENA 0

Bosnian midfielder Hasan Salihamidzic tapped Juve in front in the 32nd minute after a Pavel Nedved cross caused panic in the Siena defence.

France forward David Trezeguet claimed his 13th goal of season with a right-footed shot from the edge of the area in the second half.

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LIVORNO 1 ATALANTA 1

Fernando Tissone's splendid free kick quickly cancelled out Livorno defender Fabio Galante's 26th-minute opening goal.

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NAPOLI 1 TORINO 1

Alessandro Rosina scored with a spot kick for Torino in the 36th minute although TV replays suggested the penalty was unjust as Napoli's Maurizio Domizzi had not handled the ball.

Torino's Australian defender Vincenzo Grella was sent off shortly before the break for a second yellow card.

In the second half Domizzi missed a penalty before substitute Marek Hamsyk earned Napoli a point.

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PALERMO 2 LAZIO 2

Goals from Fabio Firmani and Igli Tare earned the Romans a draw after Brazilian duo Fabio Simplicio and Amauri had put Palermo in control.

Amauri missed a penalty when Palermo were 2-0 up, while Lazio had defenders Sebastiano Siviglia and Lorenzo De Silvestri sent off in the last 15 minutes.

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REGGINA 3 CATANIA 1

Midfielder Luca Vigiani scored a hat-trick to give Reggina their second win of the season.

Peruvian full back Juan Manuel Vargas scored for the Sicilians, who had Gennaro Sardo red-carded in the closing stages.

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UDINESE 2 EMPOLI 2

The visitors came back with goals from Andrea Raggi and Lino Marzoratti after Andrea Dossena and former Empoli striker Antonio Di Natale had twice put fourth-placed Udinese in front.

Empoli played most of the second half with 10 because Francesco Pratali was sent off for a second yellow card in the 57th minute.

Played on Saturday:

GENOA 1 PARMA 0

Marco Borriello earned and converted a penalty shortly before halftime to halt Genoa's two-month winless run in the league.

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AS ROMA 2 SAMPDORIA 0

Captain Francesco Totti set Roma on their way in the 18th minute with one of his trademark chipped penalties, awarded for Stefano Lucchini's foul on Matteo Ferrari.

Keeper Luca Castellazzi did well to tip a spectacular Simone Perrotta effort on to the bar after the break for Sampdoria, who had Sergio Volpi sent off just before the hour for a second yellow card.

Totti, who missed last week's goalless league draw at Torino when a nagging foot problem reappeared, tucked away a Marco Cassetti cross to seal the win and claim his ninth league goal of the season in the 90th minute.

[Rasputin]

Wage Ranking (Euros spent per season on wages, based on figures at the beginning of the campaign)

1) Milan 120 million
2) Inter 110
3) Juve 97
4) Roma 59
5) Fiorentina 30
6) Palermo 25
7) Sampdoria 24
Torino 23
9) Genoa 21
10) Napoli 20
11) Catania 19
12) Lazio 18
13) Livorno 15
14 Udinese 14
15) Parma 14
16 Reggina 13
17) Empoli 12
1 Siena 12
19) Atalanta 12
20) Cagliari 11

League Ranking (after 36 games)

1) Inter 81 points
2) Roma 78
3) Juventus 70
4) Milan 61
5) Fiorentina 60
6) Udinese 57
7) Sampdoria 56
Genoa 48
9) Napoli 47
10) Palermo 46
11) Atalanta 45
12) Siena 42
13) Lazio 40
14) Cagliari 38
15) Torino 37
16) Reggina 36
17) Catania 35
1 Parma 34
19) Empoli 33
20) Livorno 30

What is clear straight away is that the top four annual spenders on wages - Milan, Inter, Juventus and Roma - are also the top four in the league table. While their positions may not be identical, they are all set to qualify for the lucrative Champions League (Milan are still to confirm their place), thus proving many peoples theory that we are in a vicious circle where the rich just get richer, which thus translates into success and trophies. A similar argument has been used in the English Premiership with the big four of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

In Serie A there certainly is far more competition than in England, with the likes of Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Udinese all challenging, and Napoli a definite rising force, however the money that can be afforded on wages by the big teams is making it extremely difficult for other teams to alter the status quo.

There are exceptions. Udinese have certainly been the revelation of the campaign in this respect. The Zebrette are the joint-14th highest wage spenders, yet they are sixth in Serie A, and for the first half of the campaign were in the top four. Udinese's highest earner, Antonio Di Natale, earns less than Milan's lowest, Zeljko Kalac, while only two Inter players (based on wages at the beginning of the season), Pele and Nelson Rivas are worse off than the Azzurri frontman.

Other teams to punch above their weight include Atalanta, who are a relegation team based on wages, but are 11th in the real standings, and have only dropped below mid-table having had nothing to play for in the last month or so. The same can be said about Cagliari, however until their Houdini act late in the day, they had been bottom for much of the campaign, and they are still not completely safe.

Fiorentina and Sampdoria's positions in Serie A, fifth and seventh respectively, are exactly the same as their wage ranking, thus adding further strength to the 'wealth equals success' premise. The same is so for Reggina in 14th, while Napoli, Lazio and Genoa are only one place off their wage position.

Palermo and Torino are the two teams who have underperformed, Palermo are the sixth highest salary-spenders, and Torino eighth, but both find themselves 10th and 15th respectively, with the Granata still in danger of being relegated. The three teams currently in the relegation zone are also not the three lowest in the wage table.

Overall there can be no doubting that there is a definite link between salary and success, particularly with regards to the top four, who spend so much more than the rest of the league it is unbelievable. When you consider that Milan's two highest earners, Kaka and Dida, together earn pretty much the same in a year that the whole Cagliari squad does together (11m), then you realise just how difficult it is for the smaller sides to compete with the big boys.

[Rasputin]

Inter Milan won Serie A following a 2-0 defeat of Parma thanks to two goals from Sweden international Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Needing to better Roma's result against Catania, Inter were under pressure after their title rivals took an early lead while they struggled to break down Parma.

But Ibrahimovic's goal after 62 minutes regained the initiative and his second after 79 minutes made certain of a third straight league title.

Roma conceded a late equaliser as they drew 1-1 in Sicily.

The results condemned Parma to relegation but saved Catania, who had looked like easing the title the way of Roma when they allowed Mirko Vucinic to give the capital side an eighth-minute lead.

But the Sicilians earned the point which preserved their top flight status thanks to an 85th-minute goal from Jorge Martinez.

Empoli followed Parma through the trapdoor despite a 2-1 win over already relegated Livorno.

Antonio Busce, after 10 minutes, and Luca Saudati, after 55, gave Empoli a two-goal lead before Alessandro Diamanti pulled a goal back seven minutes from time.

Fiorentina claimed the fourth Champions League spot with a 1-0 win at Torino, rendering the 4-1 defeat of Udinese by fifth-placed AC Milan irrelevant.

Two points clear of Milan before kick-off, Fiorentina got the goal they needed to guarantee entry to the Champions League in the 75th minute through Pablo Osvaldo's bicycle kick.

At the San Siro, the home side had actually fallen behind when Giandomenico Mesto put Udinese ahead in the 32nd minute.

Alexandre Pato equalised three minutes into the second half and Filippo Inzaghi put Milan ahead after 59 minutes.

Goals from Cafu (79) and Clarence Seedorf (8 made sure of what was a fruitless win.

Cagliari drew 2-2 at home to Reggina with the visitors twice fighting back from a goal down thanks to Nicola Amoruso. Joaquin Larrivey put Cagliari ahead in the 18th minute before Amoruso levelled for Reggina 10 minutes into the second half. Paolo Bianco restored Cagliari's lead in the 81st minute but former Juventus striker Amoruso levelled again - this time from a penalty - four minutes from time.

Massimo Maccarone scored twice as Siena drew 2-2 with Palermo.

The former Italy Under-21 international opened the scoring after two minutes but Bosko Jankovic levelled in the 24th minute for Palermo, who took the lead six minutes later when Fabrizio Miccoli scored.

But Maccarone had the last word with his 58th minute effort.

Atalanta beat Genoa 2-0 with goals from Sergio Floccari after 32 minutes and Michele Marconi in stoppage time.

Lazio won 2-1 at home to Napoli with goals from Tommaso Rocchi (14) and Fabio Firmani (71) securing victory before Maurizio Domizzi's 82nd-minute consolation for the visitors.

On Saturday, Alessandro Del Piero scored twic for Juventus as they took a point from a six-goal thriller against Sampdoria.

Juve raced into a two-goal lead with Del Piero and David Trezeguet, with a penalty, both moving to 20 goals for the season early on.

But Antonio Cassano and Christian Maggio brought Samp level.

Cassano then missed the second spot-kick of the afternoon on the stroke of half-time before Del Piero converted the third to become the league's top goalscorer in the 65th minute, just after Mohamed Sissoko had been sent off.

Vincenzo Montella then scored his 141st Serie A goal to bring Samp level once again.

Neither side had anything to play for with Sampdoria certain of their place in the Uefa Cup next season and Juventus guaranteed third place in Serie A.

[Rasputin]

[abadani69]

Internazionale's disappointment at dropping two points in its Serie A opener on Saturday will have been tempered by draws for last season's nearest challengers Roma and Juventus and a shock home defeat for city rivals AC Milan on Sunday.

Champions Inter began its quest for a fourth straight Scudetto with a 1-1 draw at Sampdoria on Saturday and would probably have expected to lose ground to both Roma and Milan on the first round of fixtures.

But Roma and Juventus could only manage 1-1 draws against 10 men - at home to Napoli and at Fiorentina respectively - while Milan's miserable form at the San Siro continued with a 2-1 loss to Bologna.

Not even Ronaldinho and Andriy Shevchenko were able to reverse a trend of bad results at home which effectively condemned Milan to finishing only fifth last season.

Marco di Vaio put Bologna ahead in the 18th minute and although Massimo Ambrosini got the Rossoneri back on level terms at the break, a wonder goal from Francesco Valiani sealed the win for Bologna 10 minutes from time.

In the evening kickoff, Pavel Nedved gave Juve a deserved first-half lead but Alberto Gilardino levelled the scores late on despite the Viola having one man fewer following Felipe Melo's dismissal.

Roma, meanwhile, went ahead in the 29th minute through Alberto Aquilani as they dominated the first half against Napoli.

But it was a different story in the second period with Marek Hamsik netting a deserved equalizer in the 55th minute - shortly after Fabiano Santacroce was sent off for the visitors.

Roma's Eternal City rivals Lazio enjoyed a much more productive first afternoon, coming from behind to record a thumping 4-1 win at Cagliari.

Joaquin Larrivey put the hosts in the ascendancy but they were reduced to 10 men just after the hour mark when Diego Lopez was given his marching orders.

And Delio Rossi's men took full advantage of their numerical superiority with a brace from new signing Mauro Zarate (one penalty) and further strikes from substitute Pasquale Foggia and Goran Pandev.

The emphatic triumph gives Lazio the early lead at the Serie A summit on goals scored. Torino, 3-0 winners at home to newly-promoted Lecce, are second

Alessandro Rosina's penalty in the 29th minute gave Torino the ideal start, before Paolo Zanetti added a second four minutes later and debutant Rolando Bianchi headed home the third to complete the rout 16 minutes from time.

Other teams to enjoy winning starts on Sunday were Atalanta, Catania and Chievo.

Simone Padoin's 15th-minute goal was enough for Atalanta to register a 1-0 victory over Siena, who were not helped by the dismissal of Massimo Maccarone with four minutes remaining.

Walter Zenga's Catania edged past Genoa 1-0 thanks to a Giuseppe Mascara strike just after the hour.

Chievo made a triumphant return to the top flight with a late 2-1 home win over Reggina.

Having spent just one season in the second division, the Gialloblu made a fine start to the new campaign and came back from a goal down through Michele Marcolini's penalty in the 76th minute and Vincenzo Italiano's strike two minutes from time.

Bernard Corradi had briefly put the visitors ahead with a 72nd-minute spot-kick but Reggina could not find an equaliser despite Chievo new boy Antonio Langella's dismissal late on.

In Saturday's Serie A curtain-raiser, Antonio di Natale scored twice as Udinese posted a convincing 3-1 victory over Palermo.

The Italy international put the home side in control with two first-half strikes and, although Palermo threatened a comeback when Mark Bresciano scored, highly-rated Switzerland midfielder Gokhan Inler settled the contest shortly after.

[abadani69]

Brief reports from Serie A matches played on Sunday:

ATALANTA 1 SIENA 0

Midfielder Simone Padoin gave Atalanta the spoils against an uninspired Siena with a 15th-minute bullet header. The visitors had Massimo Maccarone sent off in the closing stages for pushing the referee while protesting against a decision.

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CAGLIARI 1 LAZIO 4

Cagliari defender Diego Lopez turned the match in the 61st minute when he was sent off for handling on the line with his side in front thanks to Joaquin Larrivey’s first-half goal.

Lazio’s Argentine forward Mauro Zarate scored the ensuing penalty and quickly added a second before former Cagliari player Pasquale Foggia and Goran Pandev completed the rout.

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CATANIA 1 GENOA 0

Catania’s Giuseppe Mascara settled the match just after the hour when he tapped in after Genoa keeper Rubinho had parried a Jorge Martinez shot.

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CHIEVO VERONA 2 REGGINA 1

Late goals by Michele Marcolini, from the penalty spot, and Vincenzo Italiano gave Chievo the spoils after Bernardo Corradi had put Reggina in front with a 72nd-minute spot-kick. Chievo forward Antonio Langella was given a direct red card in stoppage time for a challenge on Adrian Valdez.

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AC MILAN 1 BOLOGNA 2

Bologna midfielder Francesco Valiani upstaged fellow debutant Ronaldinho with a powerful long-distance strike in the 79th minute.

Brazil forward Ronaldinho created an array of chances that his team mates failed to convert and provided the cross for Massimo Ambrosini’s headed equaliser shortly before the break.

Former Italy forward Marco Di Vaio had fired the visitors in front in the 18th.

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AS ROMA 1 NAPOLI 1

Alberto Aquilani gave Roma the lead after the home side had made a sluggish start.

Marek Hamsik knocked in the rebound of his own header onto the crossbar to level for Napoli in the 55th, just after they had defender Fabiano Santacroce sent off for a second yellow card.

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TORINO 3 LECCE 0

Torino’s Alessandro Rosina opened the score with a penalty after Lecce defender Souleymande Diamoutene needlessly handled the ball in the area in the 29th.

Paolo Zanetti added a second goal four minutes later and Rolando Bianchi sealed the win on the second half.

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FIORENTINA 1 JUVENTUS 1

Pavel Nedved scored for Juventus in the 39th minute after his Czech compatriot Zdenek Grygera burst into the box from the right and served an inviting pass from the baseline.

Striker Alberto Gilardino, a close-season signing from AC Milan, earned Fiorentina a draw at the death when he spun away from Olof Mellberg and crashed the ball home.

Fiorentina had Felipe Melo sent off shortly before Gilardino’s equalizer for a bad tackle on Juve’s Cristian Poulsen.

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Played on Saturday:

UDINESE 3 PALERMO 1

Antonio Di Natale set Udinese on their way with a fine first-half double, curling the ball inside the far post in the ninth minute and chipping Palermo keeper Marco Amelia in the 34th.

Australian Mark Bresciano pulled one back for the visitors in the 69th but Switzerland midfielder Gokhan Inler restored Udinese’s two-goal cushion a minute later with a header from a corner.

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SAMPDORIA 1 INTER MILAN 1

Midfielder Gennaro Delvecchio poked the ball home in the 68th minute to earn the home side a point and deny new Inter coach Jose Mourinho victory on his Serie A debut.

Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic had controlled a looping pass from Brazilian midfielder Mancini with his chest and guided the ball into the far corner to give the champions the lead in the first half.

[abadani69]

Brief reports from Serie A matches played on Sunday:

BOLOGNA 0 ATALANTA BERGAMO 1

Atalanta’s Tiberio Guarente slotted the ball home with Bologna keeper Francesco Antonioli caught off his line in the ninth minute.

Bologna never looked likely to equalise and the visitors deservedly made it two wins from their first two league games.

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GENOA 2 AC MILAN 0

Giuseppe Sculli fired the home side in front on the half hour after Diego Milito had chested the ball into his path in front of goal.

Milan tried to respond after the break but Genoa were more dangerous on the counter-attack and Milito sealed the win with a late penalty after a foul by Paolo Maldini.

Milan have no points in Serie A following their 2-1 defeat by promoted Bologna at the San Siro in their opener.

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LAZIO 2 SAMPDORIA 0

Mauro Zarate curled a splendid shot under the crossbar in the seventh minute and his strike partner Goran Pandev controlled a long pass before knocking the ball past Sampdoria keeper Antonio Mirante in the 72nd to maintain Lazio’s 100 percent record.

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LECCE 2 CHIEVO VERONA 0

Second-half goals by Fabio Caserta and Jose Castillo gave Lecce victory over their uninspired visitors.

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NAPOLI 2 FIORENTINA 1

Adrian Mutu put Fiorentina in front after Alberto Gilardino’s delightful flick with the outside of his boot five minutes before the break, although Television replays suggested the Romania striker might have been offside.

Napoli came back in the second half with a Marek Hamsik tap-in and a headed goal by Christian Maggio.

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REGGINA 1 TORINO 1

Former Reggina striker Nicola Amoruso gave Torino the lead in the 13th minute with a deflected shot after the home side had twice hit the woodwork.

The hosts equalised just before the break when Torino defender Marco Di Loreto diverted a cross into his own net.

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SIENA 2 CAGLIARI 0

Emanuele Calaio poked the Tuscan hosts ahead in the 10th and substitute Abdel Kader Ghezzal coolly finished off a counter-attack deep into stoppage time to make it 2-0.

Argentine forward Joaquin Larrivey had had a goal disallowed for a dubious offside and missed a sitter in the second half.

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JUVENTUS 1 UDINESE 0

Amauri sidefooted a loose ball home in the 67th to give Juventus their first league win of the season.

The Brazilian striker had come close in the first half with a header that hit the post and Denmark midfielder Christian Poulsen hit the frame of the goal too with a powerful right-footed shot in the second.

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Played on Saturday:

PALERMO 3 AS ROMA 1

Brazil striker Julio Baptista tapped Roma ahead in the eighth minute after a one-two between Stefano Okaka and Alberto Aquilani unlocked the home side’s defence.

Palermo came back strongly and Fabrizio Miccoli equalised 12 minutes later with a stunning right-footed shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

In the second half Miccoli chipped in his second and Uruguayan Edinson Cavani fired home to give new Palermo coach Davide Ballardini a winning start after Stefano Colantuono was sacked following their 3-1 defeat to Udinese on the first day.

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INTER MILAN 2 CATANIA 1

Gianvito Plasmati’s headed own-goal at the start of the second half and an attempted cross from Ricardo Quaresma that took a big deflection off Giuseppe Mascara on its way into the net at the end of the first gave Jose Mourinho his first league win in the Inter dugout.

Gianvito Plasmati had nodded the visitors in front on 42 minutes.

Inter played the second half with 10 after Sulley Muntari was shown a straight red card on the stroke of halftime for shoving his hand into the face of Giacomo Tedesco.

[abadani69]

Brief reports from Italian Serie A matches played on Sunday: AC MILAN 4 LAZIO 1

The hosts put their opening two league defeats behind them with a clinical display against high-flying Lazio.

Clarence Seedorf scored the first when a lucky rebound allowed him to fire home before in-form Mauro Zarate equalised.

A screamer from Gianluca Zambrotta had Milan back in front and they made sure in the second half with Brazilians Alexandre Pato and Kaka on target.

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CAGLIARI 0 JUVENTUS 1

Juve striker Amauri swivelled to fire in strike partner Vincenzo Iaquinta’s layoff to grab his second in two league games and make light of the absences of injured forwards David Trezeguet and Alessandro Del Piero.

Brazilian-born Amauri also had the ball in the net early on but it was chalked off for a foul. Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon suffered a thigh injury and was substituted.

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FIORENTINA 1 BOLOGNA 0

Forward Alberto Gilardino continued his great start to the season by scoring a header from close range.

The hosts had other chances to extend the lead and were never put under great pressure, although the promoted visitors did hit the post midway through the first half.

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LECCE 1 SIENA 1

Siena’s Daniele Ficagna turned in a corner following a flick-on before halftime but promoted Lecce hit back through Fabio Caserta’s header from a free kick on 57 minutes.

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PALERMO 2 GENOA 1

Edison Cavani put the hosts ahead when he smashed into the roof of the net from 10 metres after Genoa forward Diego Milito had earlier hit the bar.

The home side extended their advantage in the second period with an unstoppable 30-metre strike from Cesare Bovo and Milito grabbed a consolation goal late on.

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SAMPDORIA 1 CHIEVO VERONA 1

Samp’s Daniele Franceschini tapped in Antonio Cassano’s ball across the box at the start of the second half but Antonio Langella quickly equalised for the promoted visitors.

Gennaro Delvecchio struck the crossbar just before the break for the hosts. Driving rain made the surface almost unplayable in Genoa but the skies cleared during the game.

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TORINO 1 INTER MILAN 3

Champions Inter kicked into gear with a ruthless performance.

Mancini’s cross from the right after a neat move was turned into his own goal by Marco Pisano midway through the first half and soon after right back Maicon doubled their advantage with a terrific shot from 20 metres.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic then stormed forward in a counter attack to make it 3-0 early in the second period. Elvis Abbruscato slid in to pull one back for the home side but it was too late.

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UDINESE 0 NAPOLI 0

Udinese wasted several opportunities to the take the three points with Italy forward Antonio Di Natale spurning a great chance after a defensive mix-up and Gokhan Inler rattling the bar.

Napoli hung on for a point despite defender Fabiano Santacroce being dismissed for two bookings.

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Played on Saturday:

CATANIA 1 ATALANTA 0

Atalanta suffered their first defeat of the Serie A season despite dominating for long spells.

Catania striker Michele Paolucci scored at the near post from a tight angle in the second half with Atalanta keeper Ferdinando Coppola looking at fault.

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AS ROMA 3 REGGINA 0

Last season’s runners-up Roma, who lost 2-1 to unheralded Romanians CFR Cluj in the Champions League in midweek, sealed their first win of the season against the toothless visitors.

Defender Christian Panucci netted from close range on halftime as Reggina appealed for offside before midfielder Alberto Aquilani smashed a left-foot shot into the top corner in the second half and Simone Perrotta made it 3-0 in injury time.

[abadani69]

Brief reports from Italian Serie A matches played on Wednesday. ATALANTA BERGAMO 1 CAGLIARI 0

Sergio Floccari beat the offside trap after 79 minutes to give Atalanta the three points in an uneventful game. Cagliari remain bottom with no points from four games.

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BOLOGNA 0 UDINESE 3

Gaetano D’Agostino’s first-half penalty put the hosts ahead after last man Miguel Britos was dismissed for a professional foul on Antonio Floro Flores in the box.

Floro Flores then took advantage of some hesitant defending to slam in a second and Simone Pepe added the third.
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CHIEVO VERONA 1 TORINO 1

Rolando Bianchi put Torino ahead from the spot after Mario Ypes had handled but Michele Marcolini hit back soon after the break with a confident finish.

Torino’s Aimo Diana was sent off in stoppage time.

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GENOA 3 AS ROMA 1

Home forward Diego Milito scored twice in the second half as Roma continued their awkward start to the campaign.

Giuseppe Sculli had put Genoa ahead after just four minutes before Daniele De Rossi equalised for the visitors when he headed in on the rebound after keeper Rubinho had saved his first effort.

Roma’s Christian Panucci thought he had grabbed a second equaliser but it was wrongly chalked off for offside before De Rossi was dismissed for protesting a booking.

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INTER MILAN 1 LECCE 0

Substitute Julio Cruz fired in Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s knockdown to hand unimpressive Inter victory.

Ibrahimovic earlier rattled the woodwork with a long-range free kick and strike partner Adriano header over from close range.

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JUVENTUS 1 CATANIA 1

Gianvito Plasmati headed in after Juve’s defence had failed to clear a cross midway through the second half to claim a surprise point for the visitors.

Home striker Amauri had scored his third in three league games when he arched his neck to head in Sebastian Giovinco’s left wing cross on 16 minutes.

Amauri and Alessandro Del Piero hit the bar for Juve in the same passage of play as the hosts searched for a winner.

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LAZIO 3 FIORENTINA 0

Stefano Mauri’s overhead kick whilst almost on the line put Lazio on their way after Mauro Zarate’s header had come off the bar.

Goran Pandev and Sebastiano Siviglia quickly extended the lead against a fitful Fiorentina.

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NAPOLI 2 PALERMO 1

Slovakian midfielder Marek Hamsik netted his third league goal of the young campaign when he prodded the hosts into the lead after a neat move and Marcelo Zalayeta later made it 2-0.

Fabrizio Miccoli’s 83rd minute penalty for Palermo came too late.

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REGGINA 1 AC MILAN 2

Forward Alexandre Pato rifled home Kaka’s pullback to give Milan a hard-fought win.

Milan striker Marco Borriello, later injured, had netted a header from Clarence Seedorf’s first half free kick to put the visitors infront only for Bernardo Corradi to bundle the ball home in a packed area for Reggina.

Ronaldinho and Andriy Shevchenko were again left out of Milan’s starting 11.

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SIENA 0 SAMPDORIA 0 A dull goalless draw with few chances for either side.

[abadani69]

[abadani69]

Brief reports of Serie A matches played on Sunday: CAGLIARI 0 AC MILAN 0

The hosts picked up their first point of the season against a Milan side which took time to get into the game.

Milan’s Massimo Ambrosini miscued when in a good position and then had a 40-metre chip tipped over before Alexandre Pato went close.

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ATALANTA BERGAMO 4 SAMPDORIA 2

Opposing playmakers Cristiano Doni and Antonio Cassano were again the master architects in an entertaining game with striker Sergio Floccari scoring twice to help win it for Atalanta.

Samp went ahead on seven minutes when Cassano nutmegged a defender and coolly slotted home but Floccari equalised from close range 10 minutes from the break after Doni’s cute through ball.

The Atalanta captain soon laid the ball off for Gyorgy Garics to stroke home before Cassano levelled with a dubious penalty after the break. Floccari and Doni wrapped up the win as Samp lost Pietro Accardi and Daniele Dessena to red cards.

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CHIEVO VERONA 0 FIORENTINA 2

The away side went ahead on the half hour when Zdravko Kuzmanovic slotted in after Chievo had failed to react to a quickly taken free kick.

Chievo’s Francesco Scardina was sent off before the interval for a nasty tackle on Franco Semioli and Alberto Gilardino sealed the points for Fiorentina with his fourth goal of the league season.

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GENOA 3 NAPOLI 2

The home side came from behind to triumph in a thrilling match with forward Diego Milito scoring one and setting up another.

The visitors took the lead in the first minute when Argentine playmaker Ezequiel Lavezzi burst through the defence and smashed home.

Genoa levelled at the break with an angled finish by Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who was later sent off, and went on to prevail despite Marco Rossi’s red card for a professional foul. Milito set up Raffaele Palladino to score and then crashed in a shot himself before German Denis pulled one back.

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JUVENTUS 1 PALERMO 2

Georgian striker Levan Mchedlidze exposed Juve’s defence with an easy finish on 81 minutes to take the three points for the visitors.

Former Juve forward Fabrizio Miccoli reacted quickly to turn in midway through the first half after Gianluigi Buffon had parried Edinson Cavani’s effort.

Injury-hit Juve, who also lost Olof Mellberg to a knock in the first half, equalised with Alessandro Del Piero’s soft free kick but moments later Mohamed Sissoko picked up a second booking for a studs-up tackle.

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REGGINA 1 CATANIA 1

Defender Andrea Costa forced the ball home 10 minutes from time as Reggina gained a deserved point after dominating.

Away striker Michele Paolucci had fired in off the bar midway through the second period to put Catania ahead before being dismissed for a second booking.

Media reports said a steward had been injured in a clash with Catania fans.

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SIENA 1 AS ROMA 0

Striker Mario Frick cracked home Massimo Maccarone’s pass in first-half injury time to give the home side victory against nine-man Roma.

Roma defender Philippe Mexes was dismissed for a second booking for protesting and team mate Christian Panucci soon followed him for an early bath when he received another yellow.

Four Roma fans were arrested following trouble after the game, media reported.

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UDINESE 2 TORINO 0

Forward Fabio Quagliarella scored twice to send the hosts joint top.

He put them ahead on halftime when he nutmegged goalkeeper Alex Calderoni and added an easy second after Torino had a goal mysteriously chalked off.

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Played on Saturday:

LAZIO 1 LECCE 1

Early season pacesetters Lazio salvaged a draw thanks to substitute Simone Inzaghi’s strike at the far post a minute from time.

Promoted Lecce had gone ahead midway through the first half when forward Simone Tiribocchi netted with a powerful bouncing header after rising above the home defence.

If Lazio had won, they would have amassed their best points tally ever after six league games.

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INTER MILAN 2 BOLOGNA 1

A stunning mid-air backheel from Zlatan Ibrahimovic on 25 minutes set champions Inter on their way before Adriano’s penalty just after the break extended their lead following Sergio Volpi’s handball.

Promoted Bologna were presented with their goal when home defenders Javier Zanetti and Ivan Cordoba left the ball for each other and Vangelis Moras stroked home after 56 minutes.

[abadani69]

Brief reports from Serie A matches played on Sunday:

AC MILAN 3 SAMPDORIA 0

Ronaldinho converted a 55th-minute penalty conceded for handball by Sampdoria defender Stefano Lucchini, who was sent off, and combined well with Kaka to fire in Milan’s second 11 minutes later.

Filippo Inzaghi dodged past keeper Luca Castellazzi to slip the ball home in stoppage time and make sure Samp stayed without a league win.

——


BOLOGNA 3 LAZIO 1

Midfielder Sergio Volpi curled in a free kick and forward Marco Di Vaio struck twice in the first 27 minutes to end Bologna’s run of five consecutive defeats.

Lazio captain Tommaso Rocchi pulled one back for the visitors, who were joint leaders at the start of the weekend, six minutes after halftime.

——

CATANIA 2 PALERMO 0

A Jorge Martinez header and Giuseppe Mascara’s late penalty gave the home side the points after Palermo had defender Moris Carrozzieri sent off for a second yellow card just before the break.

——

CHIEVO VERONA 1 ATALANTA BERGAMO 1

Defender Andrea Mantovani climbed high to head Chievo in front in first-half stoppage time.

Adriano Ferreira Pinto dribbled past Mantovani and scored with a right-footed shot just past the hour to give the visitors a share of the spoils from an entertaining encounter.

——

GENOA 1 SIENA 0

Giuseppe Biava headed in a corner to give the home side a deserved lead on 20 minutes.

Siena midfielder Daniele Galloppa hit the post with a powerful left-footed strike in the second half.

——

LECCE 2 UDINESE 2

Lecce’s Simone Tiribocchi opened the score in the 32nd minute after Udinese’s Andrea Coda was caught in possession at the edge of the box and goalkeeper Samir Handanovic floundered.

The home side doubled the lead at the start of the second half with a Maurizio Domizzi own goal.

Udinese came back with an effort from substitute Alexis Alejandro Sanchez and a seemingly inoffensive Gaetano D’Agostino free kick that was allowed to drift into the net.

——

TORINO 0 CAGLIARI 1

Robert Acquafresca came off the bench to find the net in the 86th-minute and earn Cagliari their first win of the season. Torino paid the price for wasting many chances, especially in the first half.

——

AS ROMA 0 INTER MILAN 4

Zlatan Ibrahimovic lobbed Roma keeper Doni from outside the box on five minutes and beat the Brazilian again with a diagonal shot at the start of the second half.

Dejan Stankovic and Victor Obinna made sure the champions moved two points clear at the top of the table with powerful efforts from the edge of the area in the 54th and 56th minute.

——

Played on Saturday:

NAPOLI 2 JUVENTUS 1

Ezequiel Lavezzi pounced on a loose clearance to sprint into the area and score in the 80th minute, completing a comeback triumph and extending Juventus’s winless run in all competitions to five games.

Brazilian striker Amauri volleyed Juventus in front just past the hour but Slovakia midfielder Marek Hamsik equalised for the hosts three minutes later when he glided in unmarked to head home a cross from Argentine forward Lavezzi.

——

FIORENTINA 3 REGGINA 0

In-form Italy forward Alberto Gilardino came on to seal victory over 10-man Reggina with two late strikes after spending most of the match on the bench resting for Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Bayern Munich.

Giampaolo Pazzini drilled home a penalty five minutes before halftime to set the home side on their way after Reggina goalkeeper Andrea Campagnolo was given a red card for felling Mario Alberto Santana as he raced towards goal.

[abadani69]

Brief reports from Italian Serie A matches played on Sunday.

AC MILAN 1 NAPOLI 0

A late headed own goal from German Denis sent Milan top of Serie A with fourth-placed Napoli almost holding out for a draw.

Milan’s Kaka had a penalty saved by Gennaro Iezzo and hit the post while Brazilian compatriot Alexandre Pato headed wide with the goal gaping.

Napoli wing back Christian Maggio was dismissed at the end of an equal first half when a clumsy foul led to a second booking.
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ATALANTA BERGAMO 0 LECCE 0

A poor game which the hosts just about edged despite having Jaime Valdes dismissed in the second half for a nasty tackle.

- - - -

CAGLIARI 5 BOLOGNA 1

Forwards Robert Acquafresca and Jeda scored twice as the Sardinians came from behind to move further from the danger zone.

Frontman Marco Di Vaio struck from just outside the area to give struggling Bologna the lead but Acquafresca deservedly levelled with a header just before the interval.

Daniele Conti nodded in just after the break and another powerful header from Acquafresca sealed victory before Jeda added the gloss.

- - - -

LAZIO 1 CATANIA 0

The home side’s persistence was rewarded when midfielder Pasquale Foggia netted from close range five minutes from time.

Lazio move up to fifth while the Sicilians have now not won in three.

- - - -

PALERMO 3 CHIEVO VERONA 0

Striker Fabrizio Miccoli put the home side ahead after they were awarded a soft penalty for pushing in the box midway through the first half.

Chievo’s Sergio Pellissier struck the post moments later but Danish defender Simon Kjaer, who won the penalty, doubled the lead when he cleverly steered home. Edinson Cavani made it three with a composed finish in first-half stoppage time.

Palermo midfielder Marco Bresciano was dismissed for two yellows early in the second period.

- - - -

SAMPDORIA 1 TORINO 0

Home forward Claudio Bellucci snatched the points with a cheeky backheel on 85 minutes while Torino were left fuming at having a goal ruled out.

Striker Nicola Amoruso hit the post with a header in the second half and was then bizarrely flagged offside when a clearance rebounded off him into the goal.

- - - -

SIENA 1 FIORENTINA 0

Houssine Kharja’s header from a corner gave mid-table Siena the spoils in the Tuscan derby.

Fiorentina’s Adrian Mutu had a goal chalked off for offside and Gianluca Curci produced a smart save from Mutu’s strike partner Giampaolo Pazzini but Siena also had other chances with Mario Frick hitting the post.

- - - -

UDINESE 2 GENOA 2

Fabio Quagliarella grabbed a point for the high-flying hosts after a superb strike from 20 metres by Giuseppe Sculli had looked set to give the away side a comeback victory.

Gaetano D’Agostino put Udinese ahead from the spot on four minutes after striker Antonio Floro Flores was pulled down by defender Domenico Criscito.

Genoa then piled on the pressure and were eventually rewarded when Diego Milito equalised with a penalty after Aleksandar Lukovic fouled Anthony Vanden Borre.

- - - -

Played on Saturday:

REGGINA 2 INTER MILAN 3

A close-range strike from Ivan Cordoba in stoppage time enabled Inter to get away with victory having squandered a two-goal lead.

Francesco Cozza and Franco Brienza had levelled for the bottom side with long-range efforts after Brazilian defender Maicon and Patrick Vieira put the champions 2-0 up inside 24 minutes with neat finishes.

- - - -

JUVENTUS 2 AS ROMA 0

Captain Alessandro Del Piero drove in a free kick from 30 metres in the first half and set up Marco Marchionni to skip inside John Arne Riise and dink the ball over keeper Doni three minutes after the break to boost Juve’s title hopes.

The result condemned the visitors, last season’s runners-up, to a fifth consecutive defeat in all competitions.

[Rasputin]

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2009/01/27/1080437/calcio-debate-serie-a-goal-of-the-week

[abadani69]