[Jager]

Livorno 2-0 Pasching
Danilevicius 43 (L), Lucarelli 48 (L)
Stadio Picchi

Serie A minnows Livorno marked their UEFA Cup debut with a 2-0 win over Superfund Pasching at the Armando Picchi. Goals from Tomas Danilevicius and Cristiano Lucarelli were enough to ensure a first leg victory and put them in pole position to qualify for the group stages.

Boss Daniele Arrigoni opted to field the most competitive side possible for the club’s European debut with captain Lucarelli leading the line. Those who thought that the Amaranto may make a cautious start to the tie were quickly surprised after Cesar Prates’ dangerous run which caused panic in the Austrian defence after just two minutes.

Yet the home side did struggle to impose themselves on the game in the first period despite being highly fancied to collect the victory. After all, it wasn’t until minute 17 that they created their first real dangerous opportunity. Some good work by Marc Pfertzel on the left was met by a solid Lucarelli header at the near post which the ‘keeper expertly saved.

There was action at the other end too though. The away side went close through a Ketelaer volley which troubled the wrong side of the post, while Mayrleb’s header from a corner also went desperately close to delivering the first goal of the game.

The Picchi side ended the opening period in front. After Cesar Prates bought a save out of Schicklgruber, the ‘keeper was beaten on 43 minutes. Danilevicius headed into the goal at the second attempt to give his side the advantage.

Captain Lucarelli almost doubled the lead before the break, but he had better luck three minutes into the second period. The Italian international converged on goal before striking an accurate shot into the back of the net from the edge of the area. Livorno 2 Pasching 0.

The Amaranto were now starting to look on top and proved to be dangerous again on 51 minutes. Lucarelli was desperate to make an impression and he tried his luck with a cheeky chip shot, but his courage wasn’t rewarded with a goal.

Yet Livorno ‘keeper Marco Amelia was to prove crucial too. Pasching had a wonderful opportunity to get an all-important away goal when Da Silva found himself in front of goal, yet the Italian international underlined his ability with a fine save.

With a two-goal advantage and with the clock ticking down, the Austrian side seemed to accept defeat and Livorno didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks. Although they could have increased their lead through a wicked Pfertzel shot, a Stefano Morrone curler that hit the post and a Danilevicius effort, they will be happy to have collected a deserved victory.

Livorno: Amelia; Grandoni, Kuffour, Galante; Cesar Prates (Balleri 70), Morrone, Passoni, Vidigal (Filippini 81); Pfertzel; Danilevicius, Lucarelli

Pasching: Schicklgruber; Bubenik, Baur, Chalie, Ortlechner; Da Silva (Karatay 87), Mbock, Kabat (Kovacevic 59), Riedl, Ketelaer; Mayrleb

Ref: Kalt (Ger)

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...s/liv-pas.html