User Review
( votes)The opening weekend of the new Italian top-flight season produced 27 goals and one of the shock results of this, or any other season. Let’s take a look at some of the headline makers from the opening round of matches:
Cyril Théréau (Udinese)
His 78th minute goal at the J Stadium against Juventus on Sunday inflicted the first opening day defeat on the Old Lady in the clubs history. Having been totally dominated for large parts of the game, the visitors hit on the counter-attack in the closing stages and a wonderful cross by Greek substitutePanagiotisKone was tucked away by the French striker to leave the home fans stunned.
Rodrigo Ely (Milan)
New Milan coach SinišaMihajlović put faith in his young central defensive duo of AlessioRomagnoli and Brazilian Rodrigo Ely for the clubs tricky opening game away at Fiorentina. After 36 minutes the experiment had failed spectacularly as Ely picked up his second yellow card of the game and was sent to the dressing room. From the resulting free-kick, Marcos Alonso put the hosts ahead with a wonderful strike before Slovenian Josip Iličić wrapped up the points from the penalty spot in the second-half.
Luis Muriel (Sampdoria)
Two fabulous first-half goals in his sides 5-2 destruction of Serie A new boys Carpi capped off a man-of-the-match performance by the Colombian striker who has yet to fulfil his undoubted potential in Italy’s top-flight. Coach Walter Zenga(who watched the second-half from the stands after being sent-off during the half-time interval) will have been delighted at his side’s reaction to early elimination from the Europa League as the Port club finds itself on top of the pile after the opening weekend.
Stevan Jovetić (Inter)
The Montenegrin playmaker has returned to Serie A after a three-year hiatus in England with Manchester City and it looked as though he would spend the most part of Inter’s opening league game on the substitute’s bench. But an injury to striker Mauro Icardi after just 15 minutes, gave Jovetić an early chance to shine in front of the San Siro crowd. As the game looked to be heading for a disappointing 0-0 draw, the former Fiorentina man fired in a right-foot drive past Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello in the 93rd minute as delirium broke out inside the stadium – Jovetić instantly gaining hero status.
Ricardo Kishna (Lazio)
There was more home debut joy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Saturday night as 20-year-old Dutch striker Ricardo Kishna started life at Lazio with his side’s second goal in their 2-1 win over Bologna. His 23rd minute strike rewarded coach Stefano Pioli for putting his faith in the youngster after last week’s injury to veteran German international striker Miroslav Klose. An exciting talent with a big reputation already in his homeland, Kishna will hope Saturday’s star showing is just the start of a season to remember in the Italian capital.
By Steve Mitchell (@barafundler)