 27-06-07, 09:45 PM | #162 (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 | 
 Real Zaragoza - Torino 15th of November 2007 La Romareda, Zaragoza UEFA Cup 2007/2008; Group-Stage; Gameweek 3     2' 12' 62'  Ewerthon, 20' Antonio Longas - 53' (Pen) 88' Stefano Fiore
Torino took another European humilation as the second choice team lost to Real Zaragoza four goals to two. Eventhough Stefano Fiore was impressive.
Torino's last European encounter ended up with a pharse and it was no surprise when Tursk, banned himself from UEFA games for a year, picked a second-choice team to play againist Real Zaragoza in this away match. With a win or draw, Torino still had a good chance of progressing.
Match started off quickly as Ewerthon took advantage of a mistake of 17-year old Nigerian full-back Angelo Obinza Ogbonna and went on a 45 metre run until meeting with goalkeeper Andre Zuba and making a comfortable finish.
Though Cedric Konan twice could've equalized in space of one minute in identic circumstances as Cacau twice gave a pin-point cross for him near the post, but Konan once sent a looping header over the goalkeeper and the goal and the next time he hit it wide.
It soon shot in the foot as Ewerthon recieved a pass from Zapater to unleash a powerful curling shot from an innocent position into the Torino net and Zaragoza was 2:0 ahead after just twelve minutes.
Cacau had a shot from six metres saved after recieving a great pass from Giuseppe Pancaro and Ewerthon hit over from similiar position.
Though it was not soon after for Torino to get toured apart once more as Antonio Longas went on a dazzling run through half of Torino defence before sending a cool low finish past pathetic Zuba.
Longas tried from distance minutes later but it went over, just as Konan's attempt at the other end.
At half-time Yves Moukouri, Lionel Mathis and Iacopo Balestri all were introduced to Torino's formation to help and stop the embarassement.
It was some relief when Stefano Fiore was pulled down in the box and he sent the penalty into the back of the net himself, but it was soon back to three-goal difference.
Andre Zuba made another fat mistake when his interception of the ball fell to the feet of Ewerthon who was given a free shot at empty goal from 35 metres out and he didn't miss for his brilliant hat-trick.
It was obvious that traveling Tanel Tursk's face expressed the words, "You, clown, won't play in this shirt again."
Moukouri again was close to his first ever Torino goal as he hit a powerful header from Cacau cross, only to be denied by brilliant reaction of Zaragoza's goalkeeper.
Both teams had couple of efforts from the edge of the area, but Torino got one back eventually when Stefano Fiore brilliantly finished off a cross from Simone Camolese as he took the ball down before perfectly executing it into the far low corner of the goal from a very touch angle.
This saved Torino for embarassement only though as basically Torino lost the chance of progressing from the competition, eventhough manager Tanel Tursk barely wants to play in this remaining group game with Ajax.
Torino: 32-Andre Zuba; 16-Giuseppe Pancaro (45' 22-Iacopo Balestri), 3-Andrea Mei, 25-Marco Di Loreto, 18-Angelo Obinze Ogbonna; 15-Diego De Ascentis (45' 24-Lionel Mathis); 7-Stefano Fiore, 28-Silva, 14-Simone Camolese; 20-Cedric Konan, 9-Cacau (45' 21-Yves Moukouri)
Cautioned  : 73' Silva, 78' Angelo Obinza Ogbonna
Other Result
Dortmund 1-1 Ajax
Torino Position: 4th |
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