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| | Spotlight: Marco's masterpiece |
Thursday 27 September, 2007
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| Football Italia rounds up the winners and the losers from Week 5 of the Serie A season |
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The winners…
Marco Borriello (Genoa)
It's the season of the renaissance in Italy and Marco Borriello has joined in. Having arrived at Genoa under a cloud after a suspension for substance abuse at Milan, he has reinvented himself and is seeing the rewards. His hat-trick against Udinese delivered a precious first Serie A win in 12 years and has taken his tally to four in three games.
Tommaso Rocchi (Lazio)
The Venetian hitman could hardly have chosen a better time to open his account. With pressure already building on Coach Delio Rossi after a lifeless start to the campaign, Rocchi put Lazio ahead against Cagliari and saved his boss' fingernails with a late second to make it 3-1.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter)
The Swedish star seems to have a season ticket for this column. Once again he was the inspiration as the Nerazzurri silenced their critics with a 3-0 win over Sampdoria. Six goals so far this season and he may need his own Goal of the Season competition at this rate.
The losers…
Massimo Oddo (Milan)
The Milan camp spent the build-up to the Palermo game talking about focus and concentration, but Oddo clearly wasn't listening. Having got away with an error in the 91st minute, he gave away a needless free-kick in the 93rd and Fabrizio Miccoli ensured that the Rossoneri paid the price.
Gigi Cagni (Empoli)
It is becoming harder and harder to see where Empoli are going to get their goals from this season. The Tuscans have found the net just once in Serie A this term and Catania proved that they can't rely on their miserly defence to get them out of jail every time.
Rubinho (Genoa)
It just hasn't been the Brazilian goalkeeper's week. He was hospitalised after being kicked in the head by Claudio Bellucci in a one-on-one last weekend and surprisingly recovered to start against Udinese only to get his marching orders after 50 minutes. He was adjudged to have handled outside his area, but the ball actually seemed to be on the line. They say it comes in threes...
The goals…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter)
All the class, strength and tenacity of Zlatan was on show when he turned between three defenders to smash home a left-foot strike against Sampdoria, taking his seasonal tally to six..
Amantino Mancini (Roma)
With Francesco Totti injured, the Brazilian decided to take over chip duties with this delightful disguised effort from the edge of the box. Sebastien Frey was caught completely flat-footed.
Clarence Seedorf (Milan)
A masterclass in one-touch football from the Rossoneri. Alberto Gilardino and Kaka passed it around to confuse the Palermo defence before Seedorf stroked in the finish.
The numbers…
Game of two halves
Of the 29 goals scored on Wednesday night, 22 came in the second period. All four of Juventus' goals against Reggina came after the break.
Seeing red
Four men received their marching orders - Giacomo Tedesco of Catania, Empoli stopper Lino Marzoratti, Fiorentina's Marco Donadel and luckless Genoa goalkeeper Rubinho.
Goal scoring 101
Juventus' David Trezeguet saw a goal wrongly disallowed, but wasn't to be denied his 101st Serie A strike for long as he drove home in the 77th minute
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| Words: Paul Watson |
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Past Spotlights
A unique review of each round of the 2007-08 Serie A campaign. More |
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