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| | Week 33 Spotlight: Three-dom fighter | Monday 10 April, 2006 |
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 Player of the Week: Kaka (Milan)
A week after their shock 1-0 loss at Lecce, Milan fans were fearing the worse again when Chievo took the lead at the San Siro, that is until Kaka turned on the style with a thrilling hat-trick. It was the perfect response from the Brazilian who has again had to deal with criticism after a few below par performances for the Rossoneri recently.
“The problem is that there is always someone out there who has something to say about me, I simply decide to answer them with my performances on the field of play,” he said just minutes after his side’s 4-1 win at a very wet Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
Kaka seems to thrive on the odd jibe directed at him, though. He’s put in some wonderful performances for his club in almost the three years he’s spent with them, as well as entertaining the neutral supporter with stunning displays in the fashion capital of Italy. When he’s in the mood, Milan rarely fail to deliver.
“I didn’t start the game too well,” conceded Kaka after his treble on Sunday. “However, things started to improve for me and the team as the minutes passed. Let’s say that the match ended in the best way possible seeing as I managed to get my third. It’s a good start to our preperation for the games that we will have to face in the next few weeks.”
The former Sao Paulo player, a £5.5m signing in the summer of 2003, didn’t get a chance to display his trademark Heaven-pointing goal celebration until the 62nd minute of the match against the Verona minnows. It wasn’t the most spectacular he’s scored but the Pippo Inzaghi style tap-in was a welcome relief to everyone at the San Siro.
That was Milan’s 100th goal of the season and Kaka added the 101st from the spot, before grabbing his last in injury time when he collected a rebound from his initial shot to slot into the back of the net to momentarily cut Juventus’ lead at the top of the table to just six points. “We still believe in the title,” he said before the Bianconeri edged the difference up to seven with a 1-1 draw against Fiorentina.
Yet there is no doubt that Milan’s primary objective now is to win the Champions League. And to do that then they are going to have to get past Barcelona and Ronaldinho, Kaka’s international teammate. “I still haven’t spoken to him about the game, perhaps I’ll give him a call in the week,” added the youngster. Then again, perhaps it will be better for Milan if he simply did his talking on the pitch, as always…
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Goal of the Week: Busce (Empoli)
The pick of the Week 33 goals was Empoli’s second against Sampdoria when Antonio Busce rippled the net in the crucial victory. Although the captain’s finish wasn’t anything exceptional, it was an aspect of the build-up which made it memorable thanks to the inventiveness of Francesco Tavano. The attacking talent, while running away from the penalty area, expertly back-heeled the ball over a defender for the onrushing Busce to extend his side’s lead. |
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Number of the Week: 27
Luca Toni’s 27th of the season for Fiorentina saw him beat the club record for the number of League goals scored in one campaign. The previous best was 26 which was shared by both Kurt Hamrin and Gabriel Batistuta. Toni, a summer signing, had amazingly scored 50 goals in two campaigns at Palermo before his arrival. |
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| Words: Antonio Labbate |
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Past Spotlights
A unique review of each round of Serie A 2005-06, including Player of the Week, Goal of the Week and Number of the Week. More
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