Week 17, Or: God and Palermo Keep Ascoli Miserable. (Sorry, Ascoli.)

By: Martha | December 21st, 2006

Happy inter. Whew. Thanks in large part (obviously) to my intervention on their behalf with the Lord, Palermo thumped poor, winless Ascoli 4-0 yesterday. (In case you’re wondering, Corini’s goal was the one on which I got to help. As if I would score for anyone else.) Unfortunately, Roma and Inter also won, so nobody made up any ground.

Having watch the Inter game, though, I can confidently say they’re not getting the sort of institutionalized help from the referees that Messina’s boss suggested earlier this week. Or if they are, it’s help from someone a little unclear on the concept, since sending Ibra off for being a baby couldn’t possibly be on the list of Subtle Things We Can Do To Make Sure Inter Win The Scuttedo that’s supposedly hung on the wall of referee changing rooms around the league. What won that game wasn’t a friendly referee, just really solid, organized defending (!). Yes, that’s right: Inter’s defense actually won them a game. They played the whole second half with 10 men (and, after Adriano came on, it was basically nine) and yet only looked seriously threatened during a few desperate minutes at the end. Most of the time, they were incredibly compact in the midfield and at the back, and there was just no space for Lazio to attack. When they did get the ball out wide and managed a good cross (rarely), it was handled with no problem by Matrix and his friends. Inter’s was actually one of the most organized defensive performances I’ve seen in Serie A all year, made even more impressive by the facts that a)it was Inter, and b)Burdisso, who has rarely featured in Serie A this year, played all 90 minutes at the back, fitting in without a problem.

Oh, and also? Figo came on with about 20 minutes left and created a goal with his third touch. (And then Materazzi kissed Figo’s foot, again making me hate him a little less.) I’m just sayin’.

Full results are after the jump.

Atalanta-Udinese 1-2
Cagliari-Fiorentina 0-2: And Mutu stays happy for another three days.
Chievo-Reggina 3-2
Empoli-Siena 1-0
Lazio-Inter 0-2
Messina-Parma 1-1
Milan-Catania 3-0: Whoa. Could this scoreline possibly be right? Catania are good, too!
Palermo-Ascoli 4-0: WOO HOO!
Samp-Livorno 4-1
Torino-Roma 1-2: Despite having a penalty saved, Totti scored again. (Or at least, Mancini scored off Totti, and Totti got credit for the goal.)