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On Saturday, two matches of the 4th round were played in the Italian championship. Up to that point, "Milan", who had only won victories, failed to beat "Livorno" away, while the newcomers "Catania" shared points with "Cagliari" away.
Starting this season with a deficit of nine points, "Milan" began the new championship with three consecutive wins, but in the fourth match, they ended their one hundred percent record, playing goalless with "Livorno" away.
Already in the fourth minute of the match, the visitors suffered the first loss - team captain Paolo Maldini had to leave the field due to injury, further increasing doubts about his physical readiness. The Georgian Kakha Kaladze replaced the Italian on the field.
The match started with dangerous attacks from "Milan". Ricardo Oliveira tried to send Inzaghi's header to the goal, but the hosts' goalkeeper caught the ball. Shots from Clarence Seedorf and Kaka flew just over the crossbar. "Milan" defender Massimo Ambrosini was unhappy when the referee did not award a penalty to "Livorno" after an Italian player fell in the opponents' penalty area, colliding with a defender.
Just before the end of the match, the hosts also had a chance. After a mistake by Daniele Bonera, "Livorno" players launched a counterattack, but striker Cristiano Lucarelli's shot went over the goal.
After the break, the "Livorno" players demanded a penalty from the referee when Daniele Bonera collided with Cristiano Lucarelli in the penalty area. The latter even had to leave the field after this incident. However, the loss of the leader did not stop the hosts, and their attacks intensified. In one of them, Stefano Morrone's shot hit the crossbar.
A few minutes later, another player left the field due to injury - Giuseppe Favalli gave way to the Czech Marek Jankulovski due to muscle problems. At the end of the match, Kaka, Filippo Inzaghi, and Ricardo Oliveira had the chance to score, but "Livorno" goalkeeper Marco Amelia was not beaten.
The other match unfolded much more productively. In the Sicilian derby, "Catania" played a 2-2 draw with "Messina" at home. Both teams ended the match with ten players.
In the 32nd minute, Sergio Floccari put the visitors ahead from a corner kick, although at that time "Catania" players were attacking more dangerously. However, everything turned upside down thirteen minutes after the end of the second half. In a three-minute period, "Catania" players managed to equalize and turn the score.
However, after the first goal, a somewhat silly episode occurred - a "Catania" forward took off his shirt in celebration and received a yellow card for it. Since this was already his second card in this match, the player had to leave the field.
Utilizing their numerical advantage, the visitors equalized the score just three minutes later. However, the club did not enjoy the lead of one player for long - five minutes later, "Messina" defender Mark Iuliano was shown a red card for a rough mistake and argument with the referee.
With the teams level, they were unable to score more goals and had to settle for a draw.
Saturday's match results:
"Milan" 0 - 0 "Livorno"
"Catania" 2 - 2 "Messina"
Top scorers of the championship:
- Rolando Bianchi ("Atalanta") - 4 goals
- Mario Frick ("Siena") - 3 goals
- Christian Rigano ("Messina") - 3 goals
League standings:
