A.C. SIENA

[D-Kin]

Catania 1-1 Siena

74' Cozza

[D-Kin]

Corvia hits the bar from 25 yards.

[D-Kin]

FT 1-1.

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 27 - 4/3/07 (14.00 UK)

Catania 1 - 1 Siena
Corona 56 (C), Cozza 74 (S)
Stadio Romeo Neri, Rimini

Ciccio Cozza marked his 200th Serie A appearance with a decisive goal, although Catania show some signs of improvement.

The Sicilians continue their ban from the Stadio Massimino, so this game was played behind closed doors in Rimini. Both teams are struggling badly for form at the moment, as Catania had just one point from their last five, while Siena picked up two in the same period. Enrico Chiesa was still recovering from chickenpox, with Gionatha Spinesi and Andrea Sottil suspended.

This was the first ever Serie A meeting between these clubs in Tuscany.

Catania had control of the game, but were ineffective upfront. Caserta's effort was charged down and Alex Manninger needed his wits about him to stop Rinaudo's header resulting in an own goal.

Massimo Maccarone fired over the bar from the edge of the area and Paul Codrea did the same, but this time bringing a tough save out of the goalkeeper.

There was bad news for Catania, as Giuseppe Mascara suffered an injury and had to be replaced by Japanese teenager Morimoto.

Mario Frick's low drive skimmed the far post by a matter of inches after he had shaken off his marker.

It was Catania took the lead in chaotic circumstances. A poor clearance allowed Morimoto to get a header in and it was only parried into the path of Giorgio Corona to tap in from six yards.

Siena equalised with Ciccio Cozza celebrating his 200th Serie A appearance with a goal. He sprung the offside trap and took advantage of some hesitant defending to prod the ball past Armando Pantanelli.

The Tuscans almost turned the game around completely moments later, as Daniele Corvia unleashed a rocket from outside the area that came off the underside of the bar.

Catania: Pantanelli; Lucenti (Sardo 78.), Stovini, Minelli, Vargas; Baiocco, Edusei, Caserta; Colucci, Corona, Mascara (Morimoto 40) (Biso 81)

Siena: Manninger; Negro, Rinaudo, Portanova, Molinaro; Antonini (Eremenko 62), Codrea, Vergassola; Cozza (Brevi 81); Maccarone, Frick (Corvia 62)

Ref: Gava

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Forza_Roma]

A fair result for both clubs...Siena will be happy with the point.

[D-Kin]

Game highlights:

TalkSoccer Media Player

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 28 - 11/3/07 (14.00 UK)
Siena - Ascoli

Stadio Fanchi

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Week 28 offers an interesting black & white battle between Siena and Ascoli. The Tuscan Bianconeri will be looking for nothing less then the three points when the face Ascoli at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. However, the visitors have shown great improvements recently and despite their position in the table, they will be a tough side to beat. The match, which was supposed to be played on Saturday afternoon, has now been switched to Sunday.

Last week’s 90 minutes was a great success for Ascoli as they managed to draw against Roma 1-1. They may be bottom, but that display proved that they are no pushovers. Robur had a nice weekend too, since they managed to get a point out of a risky clash against Catania, but their position in the table is becoming dangerous. The Tuscans are, in fact, just ahead the relegation zone and a wrong step in the next few fixtures could put them under real pressure.

Siena boss Mario Beretta is asking his men for a great performance to brush away any nightmares of relegation. The Tuscan minnows have failed to win for too long now, and they will try to get revenge against Ascoli.

Defender Abdoulay Konko may miss out again due to injury, while veteran striker Enrico Chiesa, who has been out due to chickenpox, may have a chance to sit on the bench. Romanian playmaker Paul Codrea is banned and Ezio Brevi should replace him. In attack, youngster Daniele Corvia and Liechtenstein bomber Mario Frick are in competition for a place next to former Boro ace Massimo Maccarone.

Coach Nedo Sonetti is elated with his men after the draw against Roma. No one was expecting such a high level performance – the influence of the veteran tactician on the team was evident. Furthermore Ascoli deserved the victory, but they were denied two penalties in the last few minutes. Still, survival is a hard task for them and if Sonetti manages to save them it will be a miracle.

Gianluca Pagliuca is still out due to a back injury and the Greek goalkeeper Dimitros Eleftheropoulos will have another chance to play. Stopper Valentin Nastase is suspended, while Marco Delvecchio and Croatian striker Sasa Bjelanovic will join the team after missing last week’s tie due to injury. In attack Michele Fini and Andrea Soncin, who has been impressive recently, will support lone striker Michele Paolucci.

Man on fire: Francesco Cozza (Siena) – The former Reggina ace has been outstanding for the Bianconeri recently. His goal against Catania last week gave the team a vital point and a strong injection of confidence.

Last season: Siena 1-1 Ascoli

Form guide: Siena (D L L D D) Ascoli (L D D D D)

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Siena (probable): Manninger; Bertotto, Rinaudo, Portanova, Molinaro; Antonini, Brevi, Vergassola; Cozza; Maccarone, Corvia

Ascoli (probable): Eleftheropoulos; Corallo, Melara, Lombardi; Foglio, P.Zanetti, Bonanni, Pesce; Fini, Soncin; Paolucci

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Forza_Roma]

Ascoli go and draw Roma 1-1...now this week, they will probably lose to Siena. Hope Siena wins...just to take points away from Ascoli as revenge for Roma. lol

[Forza_Roma]

1-0 Ascoli. Goal by Bjelanovic..... not the greatest of goals.....ball off the post that bounces center of the goal and Bjelanovic puts it in the empty net. Good work by Ascoli to over power the defenders.

[Forza_Roma]

HT 1-0 Ascoli

[Forza_Roma]

FT 1-0 Ascoli. Ascoli doing well lately. Tied with Parma with 19 points.

[Jager]

Originally Posted by Forza_Roma

FT 1-0 Ascoli. Ascoli doing well lately. Tied with Parma with 19 points.

Wtf, bad result for this very reason.

[Forza_Roma]

Ascoli still sitting at the bottom of the table....

Serie A Week 28 - 11/3/07 (14.00 UK)

Siena 0 - 1 Ascoli
Bjelanovic 23 (A)
Stadio Franchi

Ascoli secured a shock away victory in Tuscany, although once again Siena were denied by the woodwork.

Serie A's Bianconeri clubs faced off at the Stadio Franchi in a relegation clash. Bottom of the table Ascoli were fresh from holding mighty Roma to a 1-1 draw, but were again without Gianluca Pagliuca and the suspended Valentin Nastase. Enrico Chiesa is on the road to recovery from chickenpox with Paul Constantin Codrea banned.

This was only the second ever Serie A meeting between these sides in Siena, as last season it ended in a 1-1 draw.

Siena had the first chance with Dimitrios Eleftheropoulos beating away a Luca Antonini strike.

On 14 minutes the Tuscans hit the woodwork with a looping Brevi header from a corner kick.

However, it was Ascoli who took the lead in chaotic circumstances. Bjelanovic set up Michele Paolucci for a shot that came off the upright, so the striker completed the move he had started by pouncing on the loose ball from a yard.

Siena were furious and fought back with Massimo Maccarone just failing to get on the end of a Molinaro cross-shot and the ex-Middlesbrough man testing the goalkeeper from distance.

In first half stoppages Eleftheropoulos managed to close down Daniele Portanova's finish, but Daniele Corvia fired the follow-up wide from six yards.

Enrico Chiesa came on for the second half and within minutes he had tested Eleftheropoulos with a trademark left-foot finish, but Ascoli could have doubled their tally with Alex Manninger saving a Paolucci volley.

Chiesa's free kick smashed against the upright, the second time Siena had hit the woodwork in this game.

Michele Fini blazed over an open goal from eight yards as Ascoli nearly doubled their lead.

Siena: Manninger; Bertotto (Frick 67), Portanova, Rinaudo, Molinaro; Antonini, Brevi (Eremenko 53), Vergassola; Cozza, Maccarone, Corvia (Chiesa 46)

Ascoli: Eleftheropoulos; Melara, Corallo, Lombardi; Foglio, Boudianski, Zanetti (Vastola 83), Pesce (Minieri 71); Paolucci, Fini; Bjelanovic (Perrulli 83)

Ref: Rocchi

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Ascoli have been playing well these last few weeks, could the great escape be on?

[Forza_Roma]

They will see defeat next week.....guess who they play......Inter.......Inter should play the game with no keeper so it will be fair lol