|
ROME: Roma all but crashed out of European contention with a limpperformance in a 2-2 draw at home to Catania on Saturday night. With rumours abounding that Spanish coach Luis Enrique will bereplaced by Portuguese Andre Villas-Boas at the end of the season,this was hardly the way Roma would have wanted to end their homecampaign. Goals from Francesco Lodi, from the spot, and Giovanni Marchesewere sandwiched between a Francesco Totti brace for the hosts. It was the emblematic club captain's 500th Serie A appearance forthe giallorossi but he also missed an early penalty. Roma are now mathematically out of Champions League contention andare two points behind the final Europa League place, but they havejust one match left while the teams above them will all play twice. Roma were awarded a controversial penalty early on when Cataniagoalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo was adjudged to have fouled FabioBorini in the box. Carrizo had spilled Pablo Osvaldo's cross but then punched theloose ball clear as Borini charged in. The pair collided and the referee pointed to the spot. Justice was done in the eyes of the visitors, though, as Carrizosaved Totti's poor spot-kick before the veteran forwardembarrassingly blazed the rebound over the bar. However, he was not to be denied a goal on his 500th leagueappearance as he bent a left-foot shot from 20 yards into thebottom corner on 52 minutes with Carrizo seemingly unsighted. Just five minutes later Gabriel Heinze brought down PabloBarrientos in the Roma area and the Sicilians were awarded apenalty. Lodi made no mistake and 10 minutes later, from another set-piece,he provided the cross for Marchese to fire home. It was Totti's day, though, and he grabbed his second 13 minutesfrom time as he arrived 15 yards out to slot home Miralem Pjanic'slow cross. Lecce are almost certain to be relegated from Serie A followingtheir 1-0 defeat at home to Fiorentina. Serse Cosmi's team now trail Genoa in the final survival spot bythree points but they have only one match left. Genoa, who play away to Udinese on Sunday, have two chances to getthe one point they need to ensure they remain in Serie A nextseason. Fiorentina also ensured their own survival, having come into thegame needing a point to be mathematically secure. Alessio Cerci scored the only goal of the game 10 minutes beforethe break, slotting home from the left side of the box afterlatching onto Ruben Olivera's through ball. Andrea Esposito came within a lick of paint of equalising early inthe second period but he headed Andrea Bertolacci's corner againstthe bar. It was a huge let-down for the giallorossi after their dramaticfightback against league leaders Juventus in mid-week, when theyrescued a point five minutes from time despite playing the final 35minutes with 10 men. It means they are near certainties to join already relegated Cesenaand Novara in Serie B next season. On Sunday, champions AC Milan play Inter Milan in their city derbywhile leaders Juventus travel to Trieste to tackle Cagliari. Juve lead the table by a point from Milan, who need to win toensure they take the title race to the final weekend. -AFP/ac. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Stainless Steel Round Bars , Stainless Steel Angle Bars Manufacturer for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Hot Rolled Steel Coils.
Related Articles -
Stainless Steel Round Bars, Stainless Steel Angle Bars Manufacturer,
|
