 31-01-07, 08:59 PM | #94 (permalink) |
| Used In Squad Rotation Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 366 Thanks: 74 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0 | 
 Torino - Atalanta 11th of March 2007 Stadio Olimpico, Turin Italian Serie A 2006/2007 - Week 28     66'  Luis Figo, 78' Elvis Abbruscato
Luis Figo made a great return, but Elvis Abbruscato was in the spotlight once again with a stellar display in front of full house at Olimpico.
Torino was having an amazing run of form and they hoped to continue it againist a rather unpredictable Atalanta. Luis Figo and Stefano Fiore were on bench again as manager Tanel Tursk obviously is cautious about putting them back in the squad after long injuries. Andre Zuba and Masashi Oguro were sidelined.
Like typically with Torino fans, opponents got the first more dangerous shot. Nicola Ventola gave Cristiano Lupatelli a scare, but Italian managed to react well to his shot from 15 meters and make a great save.
And Atalanta was the more dangerous side in a boring start, but Benjamin's effort from 30 meters with a free-kick flew wide.
And it was the only event for almost twenty minutes until Elvis Abbruscato headed wide a Giuseppe Pancaro free-kick but even when it would've gone between posts it would've been an easy catch for Alex Calderoni.
Alessandro Rosina's deflected free-kick that was catched without no big problems by Calderoni remained as the last chance of the opening half.
Tursk was obviously disappointed with the game so he bringed in Stefano Fiore for Iacopo Balestri.
Immediately the game lived up. Rosina low pass sent through Roberto Stellone, but his shot was smothered by the goalkeeper. Nikola Lazetic shot harmlessly over in a following situation.
Stellone header in the box found Abbruscato, but his one touch shot flew over as the dominant Torino decided to bring in Luis Figo for Nikola Lazetic.
This sub paid off in just three minutes. Elvis Abbruscato earned a free-kick from the edge of the area, which was succesfully sent into the top corner by the former Portugese international.
 Figo returned from injury with a great goal
The game was very alive since then. Espescially from the Torino side who had transformed completely over the half-time.
Espescially one man looked to be hungry to do lots of stuff. Abbruscato's ran down the wing to pass the ball to Alessandro Rosina on the edge of the area. Though Rosina's shot was tiped over by the Atalanta goalkeeper as it was too central.
Though two men again combined minute later as Rosina set through Abbruscato himself this time. National team canditate tried to put the ball into the back post from a tough angle though Calderoni managed to get his fingers to it just before it was out of his reach.
And it wasn't last from those two, the roles exchanged again in a bit different version that showed how good those two are together. Abbruscato set up a great ball with his head to Rosina's foot, but the attacking midfielder volley was too soft and central so Calderoni managed to push it away.
Torino eventually got the securing goal though. Roberto Stellone made a long run of 20 meters before threading the ball to Abbruscato in two vs two situation with defence. Abbruscato then managed to find just enough pace to outrun Marquinhos and lob Calderoni for his 24th league goal!
 Abbruscato's hunt for European Golden Boot was confirmed once more
Atalanta managed to create some danger in the final minutes, but Aaron Hunt's amazing curling first touch shot from the edge of the area went just wide of the area and a Ventola 30 meter lob flew over the goal.
With opponents again sliping up Torino increased their lead to 11 points ahead of 3rd placed Roma already!
Torino: 1-Cristiano Lupatelli; 3-Gianluca Comotto, 2-Raffaele Schiavi, 25-Marco Di Loreto, 16-Giuseppe Pancaro; 17-Nikola Lazetic (63' 5-Luis Figo ), 8-Simone Barone, 22-Iacopo Balestri (45' 7-Stefano Fiore); 10-Alessandro Rosina; 19-Elvis Abbruscato , 11-Roberto Stellone
Cautioned  : 10' Iacopo Balestri
Other Results
Ascoli 2-2 Cagliari
Chievo 1-2 Messina
Empoli 2-1 Roma
Lazio 0-0 Udinese
Livorno 0-0 Palermo
Sampdoria 0-3 Inter
Fiorentina 1-1 Milan
Siena 2-1 Parma
Catania 3-0 Reggina
Torino Position: 2nd |
| |
 |  |
