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| | Spotlight: Seb point |
Monday 19 March, 2007
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| Football Italia rounds up the winners and the losers from Week 29 of the Serie A season |
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The winners…
Sebastien Frey (Fiorentina)
While everyone was expecting Francesco Totti or Luca Toni to steal the show, Sebastien Frey was the Man of the Match at the Franchi. The French ‘keeper celebrated his 27th birthday in style with some acrobatic saves that netted the Viola a point. His stop from Simone Perrotta was particularly awesome.
Goran Pandev (Lazio)
Who says Lazio don’t have any star players? This guy is the real deal, a talent with a bright future ahead of him in Italy. A goal and an assist against Empoli, Pandev basically secured his side the three points against the Tuscan minnows with a commendable first half display.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter)
Another Inter game, another solid Ibra performance as he seems to have left his goal-shy days well and truly behind him. His brace secured the points at Ascoli as his unstoppable Inter machine strolls towards the Scudetto. A future Golden Ball winner without a shadow of a doubt.
The losers…
Armando Pantanelli (Catania)
The goal he conceded to Pasquale Foggia will haunt him for years. As the former Under-21 international struck a hopeful shot towards goal from around 35 yards, the Catania ‘keeper opted to control the ball with his legs – only for it to squirm through them and into the back of the net. The worst piece of goalkeeping this season…
Cristiano Doni (Atalanta)
It’s no coincidence that Atalanta’s slump in form has coincided with some off-day displays by Doni. A shadow of the player he was before Christmas, the former international again disappointed in the 1-0 loss at Milan. The Bergamo boys need him back to his inspirational best - and quickly.
Rahman Rezaei (Livorno)
The Iranian was the worst of a bad bunch for Livorno in Udine. Antonio Di Natale twisted him inside out for 90 minutes and Rezaei’s frustration was evident as he bit back with some rather unnecessary fouls. To cap it all off, he gave away the penalty as Livorno went down 4-0.
The goals…
Antonio Di Natale (Udinese)
Di Natale’s second against Livorno was one to watch. A fine one-touch Bianconeri move saw the ball fall to the Italian on the edge of the penalty area. He controlled perfectly before unleashing his volley past a helpless Marco Amelia.
Goran Pandev (Lazio)
Lazio opened the scoring against Empoli with a gem of a goal from Pandev. Having spotted Daniele Balli off his line, the striker showed his awareness and delicate touch by lobbing the ‘keeper from 30 yards.
Andrea Gasbarroni (Parma)
The former Azzurrini winger finally contributed to Parma’s survival cause with a sublime winner against Siena. Having taken advantage of a poor clearance, the Juventus youth product precisely curled the ball into the bottom corner of the net from outside the area.
The numbers…
Ibra at the double
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his first Inter brace during the 2-1 at Ascoli. Those goals mean he’s now on 15 for the League season – just one short of his seasonal best of 16, which he acquired at Juventus in 2004-05.
Southern comfort
Reggina set a new club record with their fourth away win of the season at Catania. In their short Serie A lives the Amaranto had collected a previous best of three in 1999-00, 2004-05 and 2005-06.
Drawing blanks
Fiorentina’s 0-0 draw with Roma was the first scoreless tie between the two clubs since the 1998-99 season. The Viola, who had only drawn with Milan at home this season, also failed to score at the Franchi for the first time in 33 games. |
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| Words: Antonio Labbate |
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Past Spotlights
A unique review of each round of the 2006-07 Serie A campaign. More |
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