Parma 2-0 Livorno: Amauri double sends Ducali into Europe

Date: 18th May 2014 at 10:50pm
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Parma beat already relegated Livorno 2-0 to claim a place in the Europa League for next season on Sunday night at the Tardini.

Two goals from second half substitute Amauri was enough for the home side to claim all three points.

After six minutes Antonio Cassano had a chance to open the scoring but his shot was saved at Luca Anania’s near post.

A slick counter attack found  Ezequiel Schelotto in space and his cross found Jonathan Biabiany in the box, however, he missed an easy header from six yards.

In a first half of few opportunities Biabiany came closest to scoring. The French forward was inches away from giving Parma the lead as he was found in the box by Cassano, but his shot was deflected narrowly wide.

The second half started as the first had ended with plenty of errors on the ball and late challenges which disrupted the flow of the game.

On the 52nd minute the game changed as Parma coach Roberto Donadoni bought off Schelotto and introduced Amauri to the game.

There was a huge shout for a penalty from the Parma players as Cassano’s shot appeared to strike the hand of Livorno defender Leandro Rinaudo, but referee Andrea De Marco was not interested in the appeals.

Parma finally took the lead in the 62nd minute as Amauri headed home from a Cassano corner to send the Tardini wild with delight.

Ten minutes later a Marco Parolo cross managed to evade both Cassano and Amauri as it flashed across the six yard box.

Amauri doubled Parma’s lead as his header from a Biabiany cross was saved by Anania but the Italian striker was able to slot the rebound home from three yards out.

The result meant that Parma qualified for Europe as Torino could only draw in Florence, while Livorno lost for the seventh week in a row to finish bottom of Serie A.

Follow Richard Hinman on Twitter: @RichardHinman

 

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