[Jager]

Coppa: Palermo punish Roma Wednesday 22 March, 2006

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Palermo fought back from a goal down to beat Roma 2-1 in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final in Sicily.

It was a spectacular start to the match at the Stadio Barbera, as the rain-drenched pitch and windy conditions affected play.


Roma took the lead after 47 seconds when Edgar Alvarez found space down the right flank and crossed in for Simone Perrotta to fire home from six yards.


Less than three minutes later, Palermo had equalised thanks to a double error from the Giallorossi defence. Goalkeeper Gianluca Curci could only parry Massimo Mutarelli’s strike in the mud around his area and Cesare Bovo cleared it straight into the path of Franco Brienza.


It was a hectic opening to the game and moments later Federico Agliardi got down to turn another Perrotta effort round the post, then Fabio Grosso’s shot was smothered and Alberto Aquilani curled over the bar.


Grosso went off with an injury after just 24 minutes and there were Rosanero penalty appeals for an Amantino Mancini handling offence, but the referee judged it to be involuntary.


After the break, Curci did well to push away a Brienza effort following Philippe Mexes’ error, while Agliardi had to punch a fierce right-foot Alvarez strike.


Palermo took the lead for the first time on 69 minutes, as Roma struggled to clear a long-running move. Eventually Cristian Zaccardo’s cross was touched on by Denis Godeas for Mutarelli to come sliding in from six yards.


Teenager Stefano Okaka, who won’t turn 17 until August, nodded an Aleandro Rosi cross over the bar, although he had been flagged for a tight offside position.


Agliardi proved crucial as he flew to fingertip a Houssine Kharja piledriver out from under the crossbar in the final stages, maintaining Palermo’s slender lead. There was more bad news for Roma, who saw Perrotta require treatment for a knee injury in stoppages.


The second leg is at the Stadio Olimpico on April 12 to decide who’ll go into the Final and face the winners of Inter-Udinese.



Palermo 2-1 Roma


Scorers: Perrotta 1 (R), Brienza 4 (P), Mutarelli 69 (P)


Palermo: Agliardi; Zaccardo, Conteh, Terlizzi, Barzagli; Grosso (Codrea 24), Corini, Mutarelli; Brienza (Gonzalez 53), Di Michele; Caracciolo (Godeas 62)


Roma: Curci; Panucci, Mexes, Kuffour, Bovo; Kharja, Aquilani; Alvarez (Okaka 56), Perrotta, Mancini (Tommasi 81); Taddei (Rosi 62)


Ref: Morganti

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...ia/mar22i.html

Since Rosa won't post a recap, I guess I will.


Not bad of a result for Roma, considering its the away leg, actually its pretty good.