 02-03-07, 09:37 PM | #102 (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 | 
Roma & Torino both hit the woodwork in the game that ended with a rather thrilling goalless draw in Rome.
The game in Rome didn't have much importance besides showing their potential for Torino as the 2nd place in the table was basically secured for them, but Roma was fighting for the last two Champions League places alongside Milan and Sampdoria.
They had David Pizarro and Christian Chivu out, while Torino had to play without Nikola Lazetic, Stefano Fiore and Andre Zuba. Zuba got injuried for 5 months in an unlucky training collision with Roberto Stellone.
Gianluca Comotto played his freekick to Cedric Konan who set through Elvis Abbruscato in the opening minute, but the ball was too long and due to that Abbruscato had too hard angle to shoot from and the goalkeeper punched it away.
Though from the following corner Torino got very close, Abbruscato's header cracked back off the crossbar and the striker could only grab his head in disbelief.
Cristiano Lupatelli got his first save on the 9th minute when he managed to keep out a powerful Francesco Totti free-kick from 30 meters.
Doni in Roma's goal had to make a great save when he managed to keep out an Abbruscato header towards the near post after a Roberto Stellone cross from the wing.
On the other end closely after Lupatelli managed to get fingertips to Simone Perrottas header, though after the twenty minute break Doni had to make another save on Abbruscato, which was almost a copy-paste of the Torino's previous dangerous attack.
Perrotta shot over in a box scramble before injuried Iacopo Balestri came off for Luis Figo after the half-time break.
Lupatelli then made an amazing save on Daniele De Rossi's header after a cross and also saved an Aquilani free-kick before Simone Perrotta's follow-up struck back off the post.
Though Torino almost "netted" a hillarious equalizer just before the break, Roma defender Rodrigo Defendi's header went totally the wrong way, but luckily for him Doni managed to tip it over the bar.
Second half started with Raffaele Schiavi trying a volley from the edge of the Roma area, but it flew over as the central defender is jet to score for the Granata despite several chances during corner-kicks.
Torino had to thank the luck just few minutes later when Vincenzo Montelly managed to turn an easy tap-in into a missed chance as he shot wide from a central position just few meters from goal.
Daniele De Rossi shot over a header, but a brilliant chance opened up for Abbruscato at the other end who though wasn't having a great day and managed to shoot the ball to row 7 when being face to face with Roma goalkeeper Doni.
Lupatelli pushed away a Simone Perrotta lob and De Rossi's 30 meter shot didn't trouble the former Roma goalkeeper, before Torino introduced Masashi Oguro for Roberto Stelllone.
Though Alessandro Rosina's free-kick which flew wide on the 84th minute was the only remaining chance of the dull second half and late on both sides grabed offside goals which were obviously disallowed.
With the draw Torino's 2nd place securing moved foward another week and the next chance to do so is by ending Inter's unbeatten run in the league as the Nerazzurri haven't lost a single match in Serie A this season.
Torino: 1-Cristiano Lupatelli; 3-Gianluca Comotto, 2-Raffaele Schiavi, 25-Marco Di Loreto, 16-Giuseppe Pancaro; 24-Cedric Konan, 8-Simone Barone, 22-Iacopo Balestri (31' 5-Luis Figo); 10-Alessandro Rosina; 19-Elvis Abbruscato, 11-Roberto Stellone (67' 12-Masashi Oguro)
Cautioned  : None
Other Results
Fiorentina 1-2 Cagliari
Inter 0-0 Ascoli
Livorno 1-2 Sampdoria
Palermo 4-0 Catania
Parma 1-1 Milan
Reggina 0-2 Chievo
Udinese 1-0 Atalanta
Siena 1-0 Empoli
Messina 2-2 Lazio
Torino Position: 2nd |
| |
 |  |
