 23-07-07, 12:55 PM | #206 (permalink) |
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 Chievo - Torino 17th of February 2008 Marcantonio Bentegodi, Verona Italian Serie A 2007/2008; Week 23    35' 45+1' 90+5'  Victor Obinna - 24' 47' Elvis Abbruscato, 55' Roberto Stellone  Match Highlights (4:52)
Injury time and luck was on Chievo's side as they fought brave to draw Torino in a wet-thriller where Victor Obinna and Elvis Abbruscasto stealed the show from the rest.
Torino didn't have any major news that shocked them before the match. Only Claudio De Sousa fell into the sidelines alongside first-teamers Alessandro Rosina and Simone Barone who had been in the injury list for much longer times alongside central defender Andrea Mei. Chievo's side didn't have any major absences going into this home-tie.
The pitch was very wet and troubling the players, but Torino had much better start, but couldn't get a goal. Simone Padoin turned with the ball in box before shooting Alessandro Di Natale's corner kick low towards the goal which was followed by Cristian Lucchetti brilliant save.
Minute later Elvis Abbruscato went past Francisco Pavon before his shot in box was saved aswell, while Silva's free-kick flew over the goal.
Best chance of the match fell to Sergio Pellissier though, who jinked past Gabriel Tamas and go one on one with Marcelo Grohe as his shot was saved one on one.
From counter-attack soon after, Elvis Abbruscato ran to Marco Andreolli's long pass, but his shot was from under too hard angle and despite getting past out of the chance, the shot was saved for the marksman.
Fast move saw Grohe's long ball headed behind defenders by Silva for Roberto Stellone's low shot get tipped wide by brilliant Lucchetti. From following corner Gabriel Tamas headed over.
Abbruscato went for great goal outside of the after recieving low pass from Silva, but his curling shot flew just over the near post.
At the other end, Braafheld's low cross was followed by a nice shot from Pellissier at near post which was followed by brilliant reaction save of Grohe.
The following minutes became tense as Torino grabbed the lead when Marco Pisano sent a low pass for Elvis Abbruscato, turning around the defender, whose shot flew into near top corner from the edge of the area.
Chievo wanted a quick reply as Pellissier went past Raffaele Schiavi after recieving a long ball from situation following kick-off, but his lob over Grohe flew over.
Roberto Stellone's low shot from the edge of the area was saved by Lucchetti, as neither of the goalkeepers didn't let extremely wet conditions bother them.
Mathieu Flamini shot wide from 25-metres before subtitute Victor Obinna made similiar impact as like in last time againist Torino. One of his first touches took him past two Torino defenders before shooting the ball towards left corner of the goal.
Silva tried from nearly half-pitch circle to put Torino back on lead, but his effort flew over the goal.
Another quick passing move saw Silva free-up Roberto Stellone for a shot at goal which the striker took and shot wide, not noticing that Elvis Abbruscato was just beside him with a much better opportunity.
Nikola Lazetic wasted a fine opportunity set up by Roberto Stellone, who headed the ball behind defenders for the Serb, as he shot over from the edge of the 6-yard box.
Stellone tried to make up for his earlier mistake, by setting up Abbruscato with a great low cross from the left, but Rome-born striker saw his shot followed by brilliant save from Lucchetti.
And wasteful nature of Torino's play soon paid it's price when Sammarco's pass set through Nigerian striker Obinna for a free run at goal as he shot the ball in from the post for his second.
At half-time, Nikola Lazetic's dull game came to end and Nicolae Mitea was bringed in.
Torino did got an immediate goal, Marco Pisano spotted Lucchetti out of his goal after the clearence and decided to have a go at the slightly empty goal at near post. Eventhough his effort would've probably gone in anyway, Abbruscato wanted to make it sure by getting his head to it and redirecting it and making the save impossible for Lucchetti.
And less than ten minutes later, Abbruscato turned to a provider role as he dribbled past Chievo's defender before crossing it to near posts where Roberto Stellone got to the ball just before Lucchetti. Torino was back in the lead.
Nicolae Mitea almost got his first ever Granata goal, but his header from Di Natale's cross was saved as Stefano Fiore's free-kick flew wide.
Obinna's low shot was catched by Grohe easily, but Abbruscato was denied a fabulous hattrick by a fantastic save of Lucchetti as his header towards bottom corner of the far post from subtitute Stefano Fiore's cross seemed destined for the net.
Marco Andreolli brilliantly blocked Mario Suarez shot for a corner at near post in middle of the half before Lionel Mathis returned from one month injury break by replacing Simone Padoin.
Abbruscato had brilliant chance for a hattrick once again as he ran through two defenders with a pass from Marco Pisano, but the low finish went centimetres past the far post.
Petri Pasanen saw his header from corner-kick brilliantly saved by flying Grohe as Chievo pushed for an equalizer in the final ten minutes.
Victor Obinna then headed over Artbeitman's cross at far post before Torino had to continue with ten players as Gabriel Tamas limped off with an injury late in 88th minute. Tursk pushed Andreolli to center-back and Silva to right-back due to the injury.
Pellissier got good chance after being left free in area, but Grohe closed his shot down well.
Extra player of Chievo turned decisive in the sea of tired legs, and it was literally a sea with the rain pouring down non-stop. Grohe couldn't catch a Pavon nice shot and it fell onto the foot of Obinna who sent it powerfully into the empty net to make a dramatic equalizer in final minute of added time.
It was hattrick for the Nigerian as he also scored a wonder goal in earlier tie between two sides.
Two goals in added time really disappointed Torino fans in this tough condition, but the visiting side was better in all matters besides the score-line. Though it was the two strikers of the teams who caught attention - both Abbruscato and Obinna made it wonderful game to watch.
Torino: 1-Marcelo Grohe; 4-Marco Andreolli, 5-Gabriel Tamas, 2-Raffaele Schiavi, 6-Marco Pisano; 13-Antonio Di Natale, 28-Silva, 12-Simone Padoin (73' 24-Lionel Mathis), 17-Nikola Lazetic (45' 36-Nicolae Mitea); 11-Roberto Stellone (61' 7-Stefano Fiore), 19-Elvis Abbruscato
Cautioned  : None
Other Results
Data Lost
Torino Position: 1st
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