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| | Spotlight: Boy from Brazil |
Thursday 21 September, 2006
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| Football Italia rounds up the winners and the losers from Week 3 of the Serie A season. |
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The winners…
Kaka (Milan)
The Brazilian was simply outstanding against Ascoli on Wednesday night. The Milan man once again exhibited his extraordinary talents to underline exactly why Real Madrid remain so desperate to sign him.
Hernan Crespo (Inter)
A protagonist in the night’s biggest game at Roma, the Inter man settled the points with a quality individual goal. Yet his overall performance caught the eye after giving Philippe Mexes and Co a night they won’t want to remember. Adriano is going to have to get used to that bench.
Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina)
The Viola’s best player in their slim – and perhaps fortunate – win over Parma. Mutu looked desperate to score against his former club and did so in some style. He could turn out to be the signing of the summer under the guidance of mentor Cesare Prandelli.
The losers…
Federico Agliardi (Palermo)
After his stunning performance against Lazio on Sunday, few would have expected ‘keeper Agliardi to be so disastrous just three days later. The goal he conceded against Catania, when his attempt to chest the ball resulted in it rippling the net, was a howler of extraordinary proportions.
Christian Abbiati (Torino)
The goalkeeper admitted that defeat on Sunday against Udinese was his fault and he’s going to have to hold his hands up yet again. The way he spilled the softest of crosses into the path of Mario Frick to score was criminal. And to think that Juve were ready to sell Gigi Buffon for him…
David Pizarro (Roma)
The Chilean was keen to leave his mark against the club who ignored him for a season, but Pizarro under-performed against Inter at the Olimpico. He was unable to orchestrate the Giallorossi’s play or deliver that decisive pass which often makes the difference. A disappointment.
The goals…
Christian Rigano (Messina)
For a man whose game is based primarily on brute force, the former Fiorentina hero showed his beautiful side against Reggina in the Derby dello Stretto. After skilfully bamboozling two defenders, his 25-yard curler found the top corner in some style.
David Suazo (Cagliari)
When the Honduras man picks the ball up from deep and runs at a defence you can always expect something special. That was the case again against Livorno when a swift counter-attack saw him ignore the runs of Simone Pepe and Mauro Esposito by drilling the ball home from outside the box.
Giorgio Corona (Catania)
This 32-year-old former waiter is Catania’s answer to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He has some extraordinary feet and ideas when in control of the ball and proved that against Palermo. Corona twisted the poor Cristian Zaccardo inside out before slotting home from a tight angle.
The numbers…
Eugenio Corini (Palermo)
The Palermo captain has certainly left his mark on the opening three rounds. The veteran is Serie A’s ‘dirtiest’ player after committing 19 fouls so far. Teammate Amauri is third in the list with 13, while Fabio Simplicio is fifth with 12.
Italy 16 Rest of World 11
Eleven of last night’s 27 goals were netted by Serie A foreign imports. A total of 14 strikes were netted in the first half, with the remaining 13 coming after the break. There were two braces by Christian Rigano of Messina and Siena’s Mario Frick.
Three-dom fighters
Three players saw red in the first midweek round of the campaign. Fiorentina’s Luca Toni was dismissed for a disputed elbow, while Fabio Simplicio of Palermo and Inter’s Patrick Vieira picked up one yellow card too many.
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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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