Sunday 28 January 2007

Serie A Wk 21: Review

Saturday 27 January
Palermo 0-3 Lazio
Lazio moved up to fourth in Serie A after a convincing 3-0 win over third-placed Palermo. Two goals from Tommaso Rocchi, the first just before the half-time whistle and the second from the penalty spot 12 minutes from time, helped the Bluceleste to their first win in 2007. Sebastiano Siviglia scored the other goal in a strong performance for Delio Rossi's side at the Renzo Barbera Stadium.

Torino 2-3 Udinese
In Saturday's other game, Torino were beaten by an inspired Paulo Barreto at the Stadio Olympic, going down 3-2 to Udinese despite a late revival. The Brazilian striker set up the first goal for Christian Obodo after 18 minutes before grabbing the second himself in the 33rd. He limped off injured just before the break, but his replacement Gyan Asamoah did not disappoint either, putting Udinese three up on the hour mark. Elvis Abbruscato netted twice in the last 13 minutes, while a second yellow card for Gabriele Cioffi saw Torino finish the match with 10 men.


Sunday 28 January
Sampdoria 0-2 Inter
Internazionale remain the team to beat in Serie A after they extended their winning streak to a record 14 matches with a 2-0 victory over Sampdoria. Four days after winning 3-0 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in the Coppa Italia semi-final, Roberto Mancini's side earned three more league points to take a step closer to the title. Playing with only 10 men following the seventh-minute dismissal of Gennaro Delvecchio, Samp put up a brave fight before succumbing to a Zlatan Ibrahimovic header in the 38th minute. Maicon then sealed the win in the 75th minute, although the outcome had been in little doubt since Delvecchio's red card for head-butting Marco Matterazzi.

Roma 1-0 Siena
Roma revived their Scudetto hopes with a narrow victory over Siena at the Stadio Olimpico. Mirko Vucinic struck his first goal of the season on the hour mark to put the Giallorossi on course for a return to winning ways after two consecutive draws. Siena ended the game down to 10 men after Thomas Locatelli was sent off in the last minute for an elbow on Daniele De Rossi. The outcome sees second-placed Roma remain 11 points behind leaders Inter, who they visit next week
.

Milan 1-0 Parma
Substitute Filippo Inzaghi came to the rescue with a second-half goal to give AC Milan a narrow victory over a lacklustre Parma at the San Siro. Inzaghi, who entered the pitch on the half-hour mark in place of injured Christian Brocchi, struck in the 75th minute to give the Rossoneri three valuable points. The outcome leaves Milan only three points behind fourth-placed Lazio, who occupy the final Champions League place.


Fiorentina 2-1 Livorno
A match that pitted two of Serie A's finest goalscorers against each other saw Fiorentina edge out Livorno in a buzzing encounter at Stadio Artemio Franchi. Livorno striker Cristiano Lucarelli - top scorer in Serie A two seasons ago - fired in the first goal of the game just before the half-hour mark while last season's "Capocannonieri" Luca Toni levelled the scores midway through the second period. Veteran midfielder Martin Jorgensen popped up with the winner for La Viola eight minutes from time to extend the hosts' impressive record to just one defeat in 11 league outings. Meanwhile, the loss for Livorno extends their winless run in Serie A to nine games.

Cagliari 0-2 Reggina
A double from Luigi Vigiani ensured Reggina climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time this season with a priceless 2-0 victory at previously in-form Cagliari. The Rossoblu had recorded back-to-back Serie A victories going into the game, but two goals in 12 second-half minutes from Vigiani - a recent signing from Livorno - ended their recent revival.


Atalanta 1-1 Catania
Japanese striker Takayuki Morimoto scored his first ever Serie A goal two minutes from time to salvage a vital point for European hopefuls Catania against Atalanta. Riccardo Zampagna handed the home side the lead after half-an-hour, deflecting home Massimo Donati's long-range drive. But Catania bounced back in the second period and rescued a point at the death through 18-year-old Morimoto.


Messina 1-2 Ascoli
Michele Paolucci scored twice at the death as 10-man Ascoli came from behind to secure their first away victory of the season at relegation rivals Messina. A 77th-minute penalty from Alessandro Parisi looked to have put the Giallorossi on course for their first Serie A victory in 12 matches, but they had not bargained for a dramatic late fightback from Nedo Sonetti's bottom of the table side.


Chievo 0-0 Empoli
Empoli's somewhat surprising European aspirations are still intact after they held Chievo to a 0-0 draw inside the Stadio Marc Antonio Bentegodi in Verona.

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