Bologna´s Adailton denies Juventus return to top

September 27, 2009

Bologna’s veteran Brazilian forward Adailton scored an equaliser deep into injury time to deny Juventus a return to the top of the Serie A table following a 1-1 draw in Turin.

The draw left Juve one point behind leaders Sampdoria, who beat champions Inter Milan 1-0 on Saturday.

Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi salvaged AS Roma coach Claudio Ranieri’s unbeaten league start in charge of the giallorosso as his injury-time strike earned a 1-1 draw at Catania.

Slovakian midfielder Marek Hamsik eased the pressure on former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni as his brace gave Napoli a 2-1 home win over Siena.

In Turin it was a game of two halves as former France forward David Trezeguet rolled back the years and came close to a first-half hat-trick before Bologna laid siege to the Juve goal after the break to snatch a dramatic late share of the spoils.

Trezeguet came close with a left-foot volley that Emiliano Viviano tipped around the post.

He then gave the northern giants the lead on 24 minutes after Jonathan Zebina’s storming run into the box and shot came back off Viviano and a defender to present Trezeguet with a close range tap-in.

Returning playmaker Diego then set up the former Monaco man for a left foot finish that flashed just past the upright.

In first half stoppage time Andrea Raggi had the ball in the net for Bologna but it was chalked off for a narrow offside decision.

If Juve had looked comfortable before the break, they were anything but after it with former striker Marco Di Vaio terrorising their back-line. Table

He escaped to bear down one-on-one against Gianluigi Buffon but put the ball wide and moments later got free again, rounded the Italy stopper only to see Giorgi Chiellini get back to clear his shot off the line.

Buffon then came to the rescue to keep out a Giacomo Tedesco shot at full stretch before Adailton thrashed the rebound over the bar.

But three minutes into stoppage time Tedesco sent a long, high cross into the box and Adailton arrived at the back post to stab a volley into the ground that bounced up and beyond Buffon’s despairing dive.

In Sicily Japan forward Takayuki Morimoto gave hosts Catania a first half lead and that looked to be enough for the win until De Rossi’s late leveller.

Brazilian centre-back Juan flicked-on a corner that went to birthday boy Francesco Totti who’s mishit finish bounced off De Rossi’s thighs and over the line.

In Napoli Hamsik headed home from close range four minutes into the second half before former Middlesbrough forward Massimo Maccarone equalised for Siena.

But Hamsik sealed the three points, blasting home the rebound after his penalty had been saved by Gianluca Curci.

In other games Serie A top scorer Antonio Di Natale continued his hot streak as he netted in Udinese’s 2-0 win over Genoa while Atalanta climbed off the bottom of the table with a 1-1 draw at Chievo.

Livorno, who lost 1-0 at fourth-placed Fiorentina on Saturday, are the new basement dwellers.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: Bologna, Claudio Ranieri, coach claudio, daniele de rossi, david trezeguet, foot volley, gianluigi buffon, high cross, injury time, italy coach, Japan, jonathan zebina, Juan, marek hamsik, Monaco, playmaker, raggi, Roberto Donadoni, Roma, ROME, serie a table, slovakian, stoppage time, time andrea, time strike, viviano

El Salvador stuns Costa Rica 2-1 with late goal

July 4, 2009

CARSON, California – El Salvador charged to the top of the the Gold Cup’s Group A Friday night, beating Costa Rica 2-1 with an 86th-minute goal from Osael Romero.

It was Romero’s second of the evening, adding to his 20th-minute tally that put El Salvador ahead. Costa Rica equalized in the 64th, but were unable to contain a potent El Salvador that ended a four-game losing streak to its Central American neighbor.

The game began at a frantic pace, both teams bolstered by a thunderous capacity crowd at The Home Depot Center. El Salvador had the better of play, creating a few near-chances inside the Costa Rican penalty area and drawing two yellow cards on the “Ticos” in the first 10 minutes.

“La Selecta” was finally rewarded in the 20th minute when William Reyes headed a long Miguel Montes punt into the path of Osael Romero. Romero broke free down the left side of the box, beat Costa Rican defender Pablo Herrera with a quick stepover, and drilled a shot into the top left corner.

Seemingly not content with the potency of his attack in the first half an hour, Costa Rican manager Rodrigo Kenton brought in speedy midfielder Andy Herron to replace Harold Wallace in the 32nd minute to add speed in the offensive third. The move almost had an immediate effect, with Herron earning a handful of throw-ins and corner kicks, and providing Centeno with a good option on the right flank.

Costa Rica responded with its own push, threatening El Salvadorian net several times. The best chance came in the 40th minute when Celso Borges got onto the end of a Walter Centeno corner kick, heading a low ball against right post before being it was cleared.

El Salvador almost doubled its lead in the 50th minute when Julio Martinez sent a cross in from the right flank that Reyes almost put into the top corner. Only a diving swat from goalkeeper Keilor Navas held the lead to one.

Costa Rica found its equalizer when Esteban Sirias broke free along the left flank and sent a high cross into the penalty area. Substitute striker Warren Granados rushed into the area and volleyed the ball into the top of the net to even the score 1-1.

The Ticos continued to pound the El Salvadorian defense as the game went on, but were caught napping in the 86th minute. Reyes sent a low ball into the penalty area that was deflected into the path of Romero. The striker hammered home the game-winner to take Costa Rica to the top of Group A ahead of the second round of games in Columbus on Tuesday.

By Jeffrey King

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