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by Siavush Randjbar-Daemi
PFDC Correspondent, Italy

PFDC - Perugia started off early celebrations today, as two important objectives were met with the 1-0 victory over Champions League hopefuls FC Bologna in the Renato Curi stadium.

Serse Cosmi's team got both the certainty of avoiding relegation and gained the highest ever number of points in Serie A in the club's history.

Perugia's formation once again featured Rahman Rezaei in the starting lineup,while there was no appareance for Ali Samereh, who might benefit from the team reaching its seasonal target in advance and play the remaining two games of the season as part of the starting lineup. Rezaei was immediately involved in the action, as his long pass from the right hand side provided Perugia striker Bazzani with the first attempt on veteran goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca's goal.

Rezaei then carefully guarded the Perugia goal and was aptly positioned during a dangerous Bologna corner kick that was directed straight at Perugia keeper Oscar Cordoba. Cordoba smothered the ball towards Rezaei that comfortably passed it on to his midfield team mates, albeit from the goal line. Bologna had a couple of other chances on goal that the Perugia defense as a whole or keeper Cordoba managed to keep under control.

Rezaei's performance thoughout the rest of the match was at the same level of his previous Serie A performances, which seem to have guaranteed the former Zob Ahan defender a place in the starting eleven for Perugia in the next Serie A season as well.

The Perugia players and management went to the stands that are usually taken by the Perugia season-ticket holders after the final whistle, and Rezaei was one of the more feted players, alongside with strikers Vryzas and Bazzani and Brazilian defender Ze Maria, who entered into Perugia folklore by scoring the only goal of the match at the 6th minute of the second half.

Match statistics and video clips can be found at the following link:
http://www2.raisport.rai.it/mcalcio/2001_2002/a/p0281.html

PERUGIA - BOLOGNA 1-0 (0-0)

Serie A 2001-2002, Week 32nd
Perugia
Sunday April 21st, 2002

Perugia: Cordoba 6, Rezaei 6.5, Di Loreto 6.5, Milanese 6.5,
Zé Maria 7, Tedesco 6, Blasi 6 (84'Fusani -), Baiocco 7,
Grosso 6, Bazzani 6, Vryzas 6 (71'O'Neill -).
(Tardioli, Samuel, Gatti, Berrettoni, Samereh).
CT: Cosmi.

Bologna: Pagliuca 6, Falcone 5.5 (71'Bellucci -), Fresi 5,
Castellini 6, Nervo 5.5 (38'Zaccardo 5.5), Brighi 6 (60'Zauli 5),
Olive 5, Tarantino 5.5, Pecchia 5, Signori 5, Cruz 5.
(Coppola, Brioschi, Firmani, Gamberini).
CT: Trombetta (Guidolin suspended).

Referee: Collina.

Scorer: 51'Zé Maria.

Corners: 5-5.

Booked: Fresi(B), Olive(B), Tarantino(B), Di Loreto(P).

Attendance: 10000.

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