Paolo Maldini’s final match in front of the San Siro crowd ended in disappointment as AS Roma stunned AC Milan 3-2 on Sunday.

Maldini was making his last appearance in the red and black Milan shirt in front of his home fans but Francesco Totti’s late free-kick pooped the party for the 40-year-old veteran, who made his debut for the club in 1985 as a 16-year-old.

And despite Massimo Ambrosini’s brace in the final quarter of an hour, Roma snatched a vital three points that secured them a place in next season’s Europa League. The result didn’t do anything, though, to stop Milan’s fans paying homage to a player who has graced the San Siro pitch for 24 years.

No-one left the building as Maldini performed a lap of honour to rousing applause, although a small minority spoiled the atmosphere by chanting slogans against Maldini. Even so, coach Carlo Ancelotti, who may too leave Milan at the end of the season, said it did nothing to detract from the generally generous reception the club captain received.

“A small minority protested against certain things he did. It was a drop in an ocean full of affection and passion, hence insignificant,” he said before deflection talk of his own future.

“Today there’s no reason to talk about that because we’re still playing (there’s one more match to play).

“We have a week to prepare well. Hence we will talk about all this after Florence (Milan’s last game is away to Fiorentina).”

The hosts had the first clear chance of the game just before the half hour mark as Pato was sent clean through down the inside left channel. He opened up his body and brought the ball back onto his right foot to try to curl the ball around Roma goalkeeper Artur but the Brazilian got the slightest touch to deflect it wide.

Maldini San Siro Swansong Turns Sour With Roma Defeat … read more »

The Polo Scientifico Didattico, Rimini Campus, of the University of Bologna, announces the opening of a competition for two scholarships for foreign students (EU students and non-EU students) enrolling at the Laurea Magistralis/Master Degree “Economics and Market Policy”, Faculty of Economics, Rimini Campus in the academic year 2009/2010. Information about the Laurea Magistralis are available at this page.

The amount of the scholarships is the following: a grant of 4000 euros per year and a grant of 1700 euros. Foreign students applying to the Laurea Magistralis “Economics and Market Policy” can send their application to the following address: relazioni.internazionali[ at ]rimini.unibo.it

Scholarships for Foreign Students for International Laurea Magistralis, University of Bologna, Italy … read more »

Lazio beat Sampdoria 6-5 on penalties following a 1-1 draw to win the Italian Cup at the Stadio Olimpico here on Wednesday and qualify for next season’s Europa League.

Lazio goalkeeper Nestor Muslera saved two penalties in the shoot-out, which went to sudden death after both teams missed one each of their first five.

Frenchman Ousmane Dabo scored the winning penalty after Hugo Campagnaro had seen his shot saved. Argentine forward Mauro Zarate had given Lazio a fourth minute lead but Giampaolo Pazzini equalised just past the half hour mark.

Lazio were off to a flying start when Zarate lashed a wonder strike past Luca Castellazzi from outside the area on four minutes. Lazio were in the ascendancy for the first half hour and should have doubled their advantage on 28 minutes.

Castellazzi spilled a long range strike from Aleksandar Kolarov and Macedonia forward Goran Pandev was there to mop up the loose ball but Castellazzi redeemed himself by crucially making a close-range block.

The importance of that save was evident three minutes later as Sampdoria equalised through Pazzini. Antonio Cassano sent a deep cross over from the left to Lithuanian Marius Stankevicius at the back post and his header across goal was diverted in by Pazzini.

Sampdoria came close on the stroke of half-time but Muslera tipped over Cassano’s fierce free-kick.

On the hour, it was Lazio who threatened again but the late arriving Pasquale Foggia couldn’t control his volley from Pandev’s cross.

Both sides then failed to create anything significant for the remaining half hour and even less so in the 30 minutes of extra-time.

Penalties would separate the sides and Muslera made a good start saving from Cassano.

Lazio’s advantage was wiped out when Tommaso Rocchi hit the post and saw the ball run across the face of goal and away to safety.

But then in sudden death Muslera saved from Campagnaro and Dabo stepped up to stroke home the ball and claim the cup.

The project offers international students the possibility to receive a scholarship and other benefits to graduate from the Politecnico di Torino attending a Bachelor of Science program in Engineering at the Verrès campus.

The initiative, promoted by the Politecnico di Torino and supported by Regione Valle d’Aosta, will offer scholarships on the following Bachelor of Science programs:

• Computer engineering
• Mechatronic engineering

General information on the Bachelor of Science programs
Location: Verrès
Language in which the courses are held: Italian
Length: 3 years

The activities will begin in September 2009.

Undergraduate Scholarships in Computer and Mechatronics Engineering, Verres Campus, Politecnico di Torino, Italy … read more »

Master of Science in Environmental Engineeering (Petroleum Engineering)

The Eni Project offers international students the possibility to receive a scholarship and other benefits to graduate from the Politecnico di Torino attending a Master of Science program in Environmental Engineering (Petroleum Engineering) .

The project, promoted by the Politecnico di Torino and financed by Eni – Exploration & Production Division and Eni Corporate University, will offer for the 2009/2010 academic year up to 40 scholarship to international students.

The length of the course is 2 years full time and corresponds to 120 ECTS credits. All the courses are entirely held in English.

The activities will begin in September 2009.

Academic requirements
In order to be admitted into the Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (Petroleum Engineering) program, applicants must possess a university degree equivalent to a Bachelor of Science degree, which is approximately equivalent to three or four years after secondary school, depending on the number of secondary school years.

Master Scholarships in Petroleum Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Italy … read more »