A drab affair between Atalanta and Parma, both struggling at the wrong end of the table and it ultimately took a mistake in injury time to decide the match in the home side’s favour.
The match looked destined to end in a goalless draw until, in the final minute, Luca Cigarini hit a rasping shot from out side the box.
Antonio Mirate, in the Parma goal, was able to get his body behind the effort but failed to hold onto the ball, spilling it to the waiting Richmond Boakye to smash home from close range and take all three points for Atalanta.
Atalanta
Marco Sportiello – 6.5 – Easy
Quite afternoon for Atalanta’s keeper as he was rarely troubled and had very little to do.
Davide Zappacosta – 7 – Encouraging
Got forward and linked well with D’Alessandro down the right but lacked quality when putting crosses into the box.
Yohan Benalouane – 7.5 – Solid
Solid all afternoon he was rarely beaten.
Giuseppe Biava – 7 – Impressive
Formed a impressive wall with his partner Benalouane and allowed the Parma forwards very few opportunities.
Boukary Drame – 6 – Unspectacular
Did what was required of him, it was a solid and unspectacular afternoon for the left back.
Carlos Carmona – 6 – Tried
Attempted to get forward to support his strikers but continually failed to find the final ball needed to create goal scoring chances.
Luca Cigarini – 6.5 – Dictated
Dictated proceedings for the home side in the centre of the park and had a few long range efforts, the last of which was fumbled by the opposition goalkeeper thus creating the games only goal.
Giulio Migliaccio – 6 – Shift
Went about his work in the middle of the pitch with little fan fare and put in a decent shift. Replaced by Daniele Baselli on 67 minutes.
Marco D’Alessandro – 6.5 – Lively
Lively playing out on the right wing he caused the Parma defence problems with his movement and dribbling. Replaced by Richmond Boakye with 15 minutes left.
German Denis – 6 – Subdued
Like the other strikers involved in this contest the Argentine did little to cause the opposition any problems and he never came close to scoring. Replaced by Rolando Bianchi early in the second half.
Maximiliano Moralez – 6 – Tricky
Created a few opportunities for his side with his tricky movement but was largely kept quiet by the Parma defence.
Substitutes
Rolando Bianchi – 6.5 – Menace
Menacing aerial presence after coming on for Denis. Continually won headers in the oppositions area and gained his side a few free kicks.
Daniele Baselli – 6 – Missed
Should really have scored shortly after coming on when presented with a clear shot on goal but his effort went over the cross bar.
Richmond Boakye – 6.5 – Scorer
Scored the only goal of the game right at the end after following up Cigarini’s long range shot.
Parma
Antonio Mirante – 6 – Spilled
Just like his opposite number, Mirante had little to do all afternoon, but he spilled a thundering shot from Cigarini right at the end which Boakye capitalised on.
Pedro Mendes – 6 – Controlled
Done his job and kept the opposition strikers under control.
Alessandro Lucarelli – 6.5 – Strong
Won his fare share of tackles and put in a solid defensive display, the Parma captain was unlucky to be on the losing side.
Felipe – 6.5 – Fighting
A good display from the Brazilian who was quick to close down the opposition. Like his teammates he was ultimately let down by a mistake from his goalkeeper.
Stefan Ristovski – 6 – Struggled
Struggled to make an impact on the game and was substitutes at half time.
Afriyie Acquah – 6.5 – Tenacious
A terrier for his team in the heart of midfield. The Ghanaian continually won his side possession and drove forward. Had a few chances from long range shots.
Cristobal Jorquera – 5.5 – Injured
Replaced by Francesco Lodi in the first half after picking up a hamstring injury.
Jose Mauri – 6 – Anonymous
Fairly anonymous performance by the youngster who struggled to make an impact in the midfield. Substituted close to the end.
Massimo Gobbi – 6 – Muted
Got up and down the left flank well but rarely troubled in attacking areas.
Antonio Cassano – 5.5 – Lacking
Had a quiet afternoon and lacked that little bit of magic that his side so desperately needed.
Massimo Coda – 5- Dominated
Never came close to scoring for his side as he was dominated by the Atalanta back line.
Substitutes
Francesco Lodi – 6 – Reserved
Came on in the first have but failed to control preceding’s as you would expect from the former Catania maestro.
Abdelkader Ghezzal – 5.5 – Hushed
Appeared at half time and tried to get forward but lacked any quality when crossing.
Daniele Galloppa – N/A
