18 yards - soccer news

Just some video highlights of the best from round 30.

Milan only beat Torino 1-0 but truly assaulted their goal during most of the match.

Roma vs Empoli 2-1. Inter’s lead at the top has been cut short to just 4 points now. Although Giovinco was causing all sorts of problems for Roma, a couple of goals from Tonetto and Panucci were enough to settle this match.

Just a quick post for the matchday 29 highlights of the derby of Rome. Lazio left it late but defeated Roma in a five-goal thriller. Check out the highlights below.

Just some quick video highlights of the best action from this round.

I personally found the best match by far this week between Fiorentina and Genoa. Not that Genoa put up much of a fight but the Viola just played so well. It marked the return of Adrian Mutu and he wasted no time picking up where he left off. A brilliant assist for the first goal and an incredible power drive for the second. Enjoy below.

Inter did enough to get back to winning after a terrible champions league exit. They defeated Palermo 2-1 and the first goal saw Vieira and Ibrahimovic combine well and then Jimenez wrapped things up.

Roma came from behind to defeat Milan. Although Kaka’s goal was easy on the eyes, they left themselves open yet again and gave a crucial game away.

For a more in depth wrap of all the action, check out my latest post at footy-boots.

Inter celebrated 100 years of separation from the club that later became AC Milan and did not want foreigners in the game. They did so in style as they defeated Reggina 2-0 at home. The win is a much needed confidence booster after their shock defeat last week at the hands of Napoli to end their unbeaten season. Also it should help them mentally to take on Liverpool in a few days. A do or die match to stay alive in the champions league and a very difficult task indeed. At least Ibrahimovic is back after knee worries but the back line will be irregular to say the least! Cordoba and Samuel’s seasons are over and Materazzi is suspended for the coming match. It will probably see Burdisso and Chivu together as long as the latter can shake off his shoulder problem. Either way, enjoy the highlights of the serie A match.

Fiorentina came from behind in the dying minutes to snatch full points of Juventus and defeated them 3-2 in the 3rd vs 4th place battle. Fiorentina are now only one point behind them. See the highlights below.

Roma defeated Parma in style, 4-0. The win sees them just 6 points off league-leaders Inter after the nerazzuri had their 31 game undefeated streak stopped by Napoli, a 1-0 loss on the trot. More quality highlights below.

Inter welcomed Roma to the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in this entertaining top-table battle. Inter had to do without Ibrahimovic, Samuel and Cordoba because of injury while the visitors had Cicinho suspended. The match started with a fast tempo and both teams had several chances early on, Inter firing over the bar a couple of times while Roma forced Julio Cesar to come out a lot. Crespo had an amazing volley ricochet off the post and roll across the face of goal rather than into the net.

Roma were more and more involved in the game as the half wore on and finally put a goal away Vucinic left Maicon behind before passing to Tonetto who crossed for Totti to strike the ball into the bottom corner. Burdisso almost equalised at the end of the half with a free header but couldn’t keep it down. The chances continued for both parties in the second half but good goal-keeping kept out any shots that weren’t blasted just wide or over. On 67 minutes Inter were reduced to ten men and it wasn’t because of a red card. Maxwell had to go off with an ankle injury but all the subs were used already. Roma took full hold of this opportunity and began an assault on Inter’s goal. The home side had some luck come their way as Roma were reduced to ten men when Mexes picked up a 2nd yellow on 83 minutes. Soon after Crespo almost equalised with a powerful header. Finally with two minutes to go, Zanetti fired a volley past Doni from the edge of the area to equalise and send the home crowd wild.

Video highlights below.

Inter paid a visit to Sampdoria this week hoping to put the Champion’s League defeat to Liverpool behind them. Unfortunately the trip to Anfield cost them the services of solid and speedy Cordoba. He damaged the ACL in his knee and will be out for some time. Mancini also had to rest Ibrahimovic and Cruz with the former also suffering from a knee injury although much less severe. Crespo and Suazo were paired up and given a start although neither was particularly impressive.

The match was all Sampdoria to begin with as Cassano continued to inspire and dictate play. Inter slowly began to assert themselves more and more as the game continued but Sampdoria gave them a warning shot on 47 minutes. A goal that was ruled out for offside. Not long after, Cassano’s perseverance paid off as he squeezed past the Inter defense and smashed a rocket into the net on 65 minutes. The goal must’ve shocked Inter into gear as they desperately worked to salvage something from this match.

Crespo was finally able to find the net and preserve Inter’s unbeaten domestic record. The Argentine put away a diving header from a Stankovic cross. Inter grabbed a point to take home but Roma closed the gap to 9 points. A very important match between the two will take place on Wednesday, the result could be enough to put the Scudetto beyond reach or really open up the title race. Enjoy the video highlights below.

Check out this week’s Serie A wrap up on Footy-boots.

Inter took full advantage of the second place battle between Juventus and Roma which caused the latter to miss out on points and almost second place. Inter opened up their lead on the league to 11 points and can probably already taste that third consecutive scudetto.

Suazo was given a start as Ibrahimovic and Cruz were rested for the important champions league match with Liverpool in several days. He did not waste the opportunity and sealed the win with an early brace. The first goal was a header through Amelia’s legs off a Chivu free kick and the second goal made use of a defensive blunder on Livorno’s part, a simple tap in.

Check the highlights below.

I learnt of some very sad news today. That Ronaldo was injured again, but this time very seriously and possibly even career ending.

During Milan’s 1-1 draw with Livorno, Ronaldo was brought on and in three minutes had collapsed after leaping to meet a cross. The Milan doctors have officially reported that he ruptured his rotulian ligament in his left kneecap. He was stretchered off the field and was clearly in a lot of pain, probably mentally as much as physically. The Livorno keeper was nearby when it happened and reported hearing a horrible sound, like a bang. I had the same dreadful feeling as watching him in 1999 and 2000 when he was at Inter and his right knee gave way. It’s been said that the injury he has suffered this time could take 9 months to a year to heal.

Milan have stated they will stay close to Ronaldo and aren’t about to abandon him. Ronaldo put himself on the line to earn a penalty and a point for Milan and hopefully he can still recover and give something back to Milan and Serie A. Both Galliani and Ancelotti are hoping for the best and his team mates were off to see him in hospital as soon as the match ended so he’ll definitely be well supported.

They expect Ronaldo to see the same surgeon who operated on his right knee in 99-00. The surgeon is in Paris and Ronaldo left early this morning, receiving applause from fans outside the hospital. The head of Milan’s medical team gave details on how it may have occurred. He said Ronaldo was hit from behind and probably lost balance on his standing leg. He said that the striker had complained about his knee all year but it wasn’t bad enough to prevent training. He was quick to say however that he does not believe it to be a career-ending injury. I sure hope he’s right.

Highlights of the match are below and the injury occurred about three and a half minutes into the footage. It’s not for the weak of heart. We wish you all the best Ronnie!