UDINESE CALCIO

[D-Kin]

Atalanta are level, Pinto scores after Vieri's knockdown.

2-2.

[D-Kin]

Vieri scores!

3-2 to Atalanta.

[D-Kin]

FT 3-2 to Atalanta.

[Forza_Roma]

Vieri bangs in another goal!

Serie A Week 36 - 13/5/07 (14.00 UK)

Udinese 2 - 3 Atalanta
Asamoah 28, 67 (U), Zampagna pen 45 (A), Ferreira Pinto 74 (A), Vieri 85 (A)
Stadio Friuli

Christian Vieri sealed a surprise away victory that keeps Atalanta in the UEFA Cup race and Udinese's third straight defeat.

This was a mid-table encounter with European football a very faint possibility. The Friulani's disciplinary record has been a real problem, ruling out Antonio Di Natale, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Aleksandr Lukovic, Andrea Coda and Giampiero Pinzi along with the injured Damiano Zenoni, Dias Felipe and Christian Obodo. Atalanta had Claudio Rivalta banned and Cristiano Doni out for the rest of the season following groin surgery, but Christian Vieri still didn't get his first start.

This fixture last ended in a Serie A draw in November 1993 and Atalanta went closest early on. Riccardo Zampagna had a good chance to give them the lead, but hesitated when one-on-one with Morgan De Sanctis.

Luca Ariatti then pounced on a Cesare Natali backpass, but Zampagna was unable to make the most of it.

The Friuli outfit only woke up with their Ghanaian World Cup star. Gyan Asamoah hit the woodwork with his header, then opened the scoring after 28 minutes. He carried on a chipped pass with his chest to take it away from the defender and kept his cool to beat Alex Calderoni.

On the stroke of half-time, as Ferreira Pinto was sent clear and De Sanctis rushed out to clatter into the Brazilian. He managed to poke the ball towards the empty net, but Zapata got back for a goalline clearance. It didn't matter, as the referee awarded a penalty that Zampagna converted to equalise. Already six minutes into first half stoppages, Atalanta had to retake the kick due to encroachment, but Zampagna picked the same corner to bury it again.

De Sanctis suffered an injury in that collision and made way for Casazza at half-time.

D'Agostino and Carrozzieri tried from distance and Christian Vieri came on for the last 35 minutes. The ex-Inter and Milan man had a good chance, but Casazza rushed out to close him down.

Udinese made it 2-1 with that man Asamoah again. He sprung the offside trap and, despite Atalanta's protests, fired low at the near post to double his tally.

But Atalanta drew level once more. Vieri held up the ball for teammate Ferreira Pinto, who burst between two defenders to smash a powerful finish in at the near post.

The Orobici turned it all around in the final minutes, with Vieri once again involved. 'Bobo' shook off a defender and placed his angled drive between Casazza's legs.

Udinese: De Sanctis (Casazza 46); Zapotocny, Natali, Zapata, Motta; Sivok (De Martino 46), D'Agostino, Muntari, Siqueira (Gotti 57); Barreto, Asamoah

Atalanta: Calderoni; Adriano, Talamonti (Loria 57), Carrozzieri, Bellini; Ferreira Pinto, Migliaccio, Donati (Bernardini 70), Ariatti;Tissone; Zampagna (Vieri 54)

Ref: Pierpaoli

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[D-Kin]

Vieri with a goal and an assist, brilliant.

[Forza_Roma]

I think Udinese did well considering they didn't really have much talent out there with Iaquinta and Di Natale out.

[Forza_Roma]

Not much going on in this game as both clubs are assured of their spots in the table. Palermo miraculously gained a Uefa spot after they had a disastor of a second half of the season. This could be the last time we see either Di Natale or Iaquinta at Udinese as Roma are pursuing both forwards.

[Forza_Roma]

Serie A Week 38 - 27/5/07 (14.00 UK)

Udinese - Palermo
Stadio Friuli

Palermo visit Udinese at the Stadio Friuli in the last round of the season. Both teams will feel no particular pressure to net a result, which means it could be a great show for the neutrals.

The Rosanero are fifth with 55 points and have already secured a UEFA Cup position. The Bianconeri are tenth with 46 and didn’t manage to qualify for Europe. In Week 37 both teams were successful as Palermo defeated Siena 2-1 and Udinese won 3-2 at the San Siro against Milan. Last year’s meeting between them ended with a dull 0-0.

Palermo’s season has been positive, even if President Maurizio Zamparini would have liked his team to have qualified for the Champions League. The Sicilians had a great start and even pushed Inter for Serie A leadership in the early stages, but an injury to Amauri compromised their season.

Coach Francesco Guidolin will be unable to count on Mark Bresciano and Roberto Guana. Edison Cavani and Aimo Diana will also be out injured. Fabio Simplicio and Giuseppe Biava will return after a one week ban. David Di Michele and Franco Brienza should play as Trequartisti behind Andrea Caracciolo.

Udinese haven’t had a great season as their realistic aim was to secure a European place. Coach Alberto Malesani may leave after this game, but he will certainly ask his men for one more push.

Vincenzo Iaquinta and Gianpiero Pinzi will probably be unable to feature. Christian Obodo, Damiano Zenoni and Felipe will also be out injured. In defence Christian Zapata will move from the centre to the right. Andrea Coda and Cesare Natali will be the central defenders.

In the midfield, Giuseppe D’Agostino will play in the middle next to Sulley Ali Muntari. Antonio Di Natale, who scored against Milan last week, Asamoah Gyan and Paulo Barreto will form the attacking trident.

Man on fire: Andrea Caracciolo (Palermo) – L’Airone scored the winner against Siena last week. He will be keen to end the season on a high, especially as he’s likely to leave the Sicilian outfit this summer.

Last season: Udinese 0-0 Palermo

Form guide: Udinese (D L L L W) Palermo (L D L W L)

Udinese (probable): De Sanctis; Zapata, Coda, Natali, Dossena; Motta, D’Agostino, Muntari; Di Natale, Asamoah, Barreto

Palermo (probable): Fontana; Zaccardo, Biava, Barzagli, Pisano; Tedesco, Simplicio, Corini; Di Michele, Brienza; Caracciolo

Ref: To follow...

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[Forza_Roma]

1-0 Palermo. Goal by Caracciolo. Nice clip from him as the keeper was off his line.

[Forza_Roma]

1-1 Goal by Sivok from a cross.

[Forza_Roma]

HT 1-1

[Forza_Roma]

2-1 Palermo. Goal by Corini. Nice long shot that was more of a cross, that went over De Sanctis

[Forza_Roma]

FT 2-1 Palermo

[Forza_Roma]

Corini with a beauty!

Serie A Week 38 - 27/5/07 (14.00 UK)

Udinese 1 - 2 Palermo
Caracciolo 14 (P), Sivok 22 (U), Corini 71 (P)
Stadio Friuli

Palermo finished the campaign with a victory at the Stadio Friuli, sealed by a spectacular Eugenio Corini free kick.

Francesco Guidolin waved goodbye to Palermo after having returned from a three-week dismissal to take them to the UEFA Cup. Udinese had hoped to follow them, but could now only challenge for the Intertoto Cup spots. Referee Denis Salati made his Serie A debut.

Palermo took the lead after 14 minutes thanks to a stunning Andrea Caracciolo finish. Morgan De Sanctis' clearance went straight to the striker, who ran forward and placed a magnificent swerving finish in off the far post with the outside of his right foot.

Tomas Sivok equalised for Udinese when he nodded in a curling free kick from Paulo Barreto.

De Sanctis fingertipped a Franco Brienza effort round the post and saved Cristian Zaccardo's header.

Tedesco really should have seen the Rosanero into the break ahead, but fired straight at the Udinese goalkeeper.

Franco Brienza skipped past four players and passed for Tedesco to thump the base of the upright.

Eugenio Corini restored Palermo's advantage with a memorable goal. Spotting De Sanctis off his line, he lobbed a free kick into the top corner from all of 40 metres!

Udinese: De Sanctis; Zapata, Coda, Natali, Dossena; Motta, Sivok, Pinzi (De Martino 52) (Lukovic 67); Barreto, Di Natale; Asamoah

Palermo: Fontana; Zaccardo, Dellafiore, Barzagli; Diana (Biava 88), Tedesco (Velardi 80), Corini, Simplicio, Pisano; Brienza; Caracciolo

Ref: Salati

[D-Kin]

Udinese have confirmed that Pasquale Marino has replaced Alberto Malesani as their head coach.
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