Cassetti Lights up the Rome Derby

Football FanCast columnist Scot Munroe reflects on the weekend’s action from Serie A.

Marco Cassetti late goal handed Roma the victory 1-0 in the Rome derby on which they did not deserve. Lazio were the better side in much of the game and if it was not for Roma keeper Julio Sergio the game could of went Lazio’s way. This game was not a very good game it did lack spark and energy.  Lazio gameplan was to stop Roma’s free-flowing football by man-marking Vucinic with Diakate, and Menez with Kolarov – it worked really well and Lazio did play on the counter attack.

Ten minutes into the match, the game was actually suspended for around 6-7 minutes as the Roma fans were throwing home-made bombs/flares onto the pitch and if it continued the game would of been abandoned. Thank god it did not go down that route. Jeremy Menez was rightly booked for a nasty challenge on Matuzalem, which then showed a splatter of yellow cards as Mexes and then Stendardo was booked by referee Rizzoli, who decided to keep the whistle in his mouth than letting the game flow. Two minutes before the half-time whistle Mexes picked a yellow card and Marco Casseti came on to replace him switching Burdisso, who was playing at Right back into the centre to partner Juan.  Both Ranieri and Ballardini made subs during the half-time break with Matteo Brighi to replace Jeremy Menez who was booked and was a bit hot headed – wise move by Ranieri. Ballardini bought on Foggia to replace Matuzalem, who might of picked up a knock following the challenge. The best chance in the 2^nd half fell to Zarate who capitalised on a Burdisso mistake cut inside and hit the post the ball fell kindly to Stefano Mauri whose drive was saved brilliantly by Julio Sergio who was still on his knees and scrambled up to tip the ball over the bar – a wonderful save to keep the home side in the game. Lazio was running the game as Zarate had a free kick over the bar and so did the left wing back Kolorov. Lazio were made to pay with twelve minutes to go by an unlikely source as the ball fell to Totti who tangled with Cristian Brocchi for the ball and it fell to Vucinic on the right wing who crossed into the box and Marco Cassetti guided the ball under the Lazio keeper Muslera to spark the Roma fans go wild in the stands. It could have been 2-0 minutes later as John Arne Riise forced a fantastic save from Muslera. In the latter stages of the game Roma playmaker David Pizarro was sent off for two yellow cards in quick succession. He will be sorely missed for the game against Sampdoria next Sunday. Lazio did push on to grab a late equaliser but nothing came to hand for the blue side off Rome, so the Red side of Roma were the happier side of Rome  thanks to the most unlikeliest source of Marco Cassetti.

Saturday night proved the 2^nd biggest game of the weekend with Juventus facing Inter in Turin. Everyone in Italy apart from Inter fans were supporting Juventus even Milan fans. Both teams set up with the usual 4-3-1-2 formation.  Juventus started out of the blocks quicker than the league leaders with Amauri chesting the ball to Momo Sissoko who was tackled in the nick of time by Lucio, who has been a rock at the back for Inter.  Inter hit back as Diego Milito looked to take the advantage at a creeking Juve defence but could not find the pass to Dejan Stankovic. With twenty minutes on the clock the old lady took the lead with a Giorgio Chiellini header, which was deflected off the head of his team-mate Felipe Melo. Julio Cesar was left a bit flat footed and had no time to react on the ball going into the net. Inter Coach Jose Mourinho was sent off for sarcastically applauding the referee Massimo Saccani. With no ‘Special One’ on the touchline Inter hit back five mintues later when Samuel Eto’o nodded home a Dejan Stankovic cross to level the score. Gigi Buffon was not best please with his defence for the goal conceded. On the 57^th minute the goal that everyone in Italy wanted as Claudio Marchiso made it 2-1 Juventus and me jump of my chair watching as a moment magic changed the game. Marchiso picked up the ball in the six yard box after Julio Cesar parried save and he rounded Samuel and chipped Cesar in goal to make it 2-1 and Juve were in control. Lucio had the opportunity to make it 2-2 after a Buffon error but the ball flashed past the Brazilian yards from the Juve goal. Penalty claims then were rightly ignored as Milito went down a tad too easily clashing with Martin Careces. Then Mario Ballotelli antics hit the stage with five minutes to go in the game he clashed with Felipe Melo who then intended to swing an elbow and did not connect. Balotelli hit the floor like he had been hit by a sniper; the referee had to send off Melo. This nearly caused a ruckus as Buffon had Thiago Motta by the throat. But it did calm down. Inter tried to break Juventus down but did not have enough time to do it. So a win for Juventus in the derby of Italy and win for the rest of Italy. The title race is still on.

The early game on Saturday was the Milan-Sampdoria game at the San Siro. At the back of the derby defeat last week to Genoa, Sampdoria were looking to put things right against a much improved AC Milan side under Leonardo, who has now found a formation with the attacking 4-2-1-3 with sadly no Gattuso (who looks like he could be on his way to the blue side of Manchester to fight it out with De jong and Barry). AC Milan cruised to a 3-0 win in this game. An early goal by Marco Borriello, who started instead of Catania hero Klass Jan Huntelaar, from a header from a Ronaldinho cross to make a great start for the home side.  Milan were in cruise control against Samp and clearly could of double the lead when a Ronaldinho diagonal ball could not find Pato in the area. It was 2-0 shortly after when Clarence Seedorf one-two with Ronaldinho and then rifled in to the top corner. This performance was the Milan of old with it being so slick no-one could have handled them. It was 3-0 moments later when the duck finally got on the scoresheet – Alexandre Pato fed on the rebound of a Borriello header to make it 3-0. There was slight concern with Ten minutes to go in the 1^st half as Ronaldinho was subbed of as a light measure due to a muscle injury and was replaced by Ignazio Abate who then swapped flanks with Pato who was now on the left hand side. Poor Cassano and Pazzini cut a lone figure up front and nothing really changed in the 2^nd half when Milan had the better of the 2^nd half when Pato had a couple of chances to make it 4-0 but both times foiled by Luca Castellazzi. Huntelaar came on for the last 20 minutes, but the tempo of the game declined as Milan were to conserve the energy for the champions league game against Zurich.

Bologna secured a very important win over Udinese with a 2-1 win with goals from Adailton giving Bologna the lead. Antonio Di Natale equalised bang on half time to keep his scoring tally up. Then Marco Di Vaio converted a penalty sending Handanovic the wrong way.  Fiorentina got back on track with a comfortable 2-0 win over Atalanta which including a wonder-goal by Juan Manuel Vargas. Alberto Gilardino made it 2-0 in the last minute when he chipped the keeper from eight yards. Shocking defending by the Atalanta centre backs.

The game in Genoa with Parma was an entertaining 2-2 draw on where Rodrigo Palacio netted his 1^st Serie a goal after moving from Argentinean super club Boca Juniors. Jonathan Biabiany then made it 1-1 also breaking his Serie duck beating the offside track and nutmegged the Genoa keeper. Biabiany then made it 2-1 to Parma when he volleyed an Lanzafame flick on from 9 yards. But Palladino makes it 2-2 after a daisy cutter that went off the post. Genoa later had a goal ruled out which could of been the incorrect call by the referee, as Milanetto appeared to be behind the line of the ball from Gisuppe Sculli pass.

Chievo picked up an important 2-0 win over Livorno on which it was comfortable for the away side. Rigoni made it 1-0 for Chievo from a free header from a Abbruscato cross. Cristiano Lucarelli was sent off for dissent after a free-kick was awarded to Chievo. Bentivoglio then made it 2-0 the midfielder found himself unmarked from eight yards out to slot the ball home.

Napoli won a classic at the San Paolo beating Bari 3-2. Barretto made it 1-0 after a long ball from Bonucci and chipping the keeper. Fabio Quagliarella finally broke his drought with a looping header. Ranocchia then made it 2-1 following up on a Barretto header which was saved from De Sanctis. Parisi then was sent off for Bari after picking up 2 yellows.  Maggio then made it 2-2 after connecting from a Quagliarella cross. Quagliarella made it 3-2 with two minutes to go with an angled drive to send the Napoli fans mental. Bari was then down to nine men as Ranocchia sent off. Palermo scored twice in nine minutes to complete a comeback after Matri gave Cagliari the lead. Budan equalised with nine minutes into the 2^nd half then Danish defender Simon Kjaer glancing header makes it 2-1 to hand Delio Rossi his 1^st league win as Palermo Manager.

Siena beat Catania 3-2 in this relegation dog fight to drag Catania to joint bottom.  Jorge Martinez scored twice for the Scillian side either side of a Calaio and Terzi strike to make it 2-2 before Paolucci made it 3-2 to hand Siena the win.

Week 16 fixtures