Sunday’s game at the Stadio Ennio Tardini was definitely a game of two halves. It was conceivable that Parma should have been out of sight by half-time, but the Gialloblu fought on bravely in the second half to leave themselves wondering how they left with nothing despite missing enough second half chances to have won their next two games.
All this was done despite the fact that they lost their skipper Sergio Pellissier to injury after only half an hour and he becomes a real doubt now for Tuesday nights big clash with early leaders Napoli at the Stadio Bentegodi.
Domenico Di Carlo was forced into one change to his starting line-up with the reliable Nicolas Frey coming in at right-back for the suspended Gennaro Sardo. Other than that he kept the same side that threw away a 2-0 lead at home to new boys Novara last weekend to draw 2-2. Sorrentino was in goal with a back four of Frey, Andreolli, Cesar and Jokic.
Di Carlo also kept the same shape in midfield with a central three of Vacek, Rigoni and Hetemaj with his former Sampdoria playmaker Paolo Sammarco playing just in front of them. Despite his options up top, Di Carlo kept faith with a front two of skipper Pellissier and Frenchman Cyril Threau (both of whom scored in last weekends draw). This meant that there was only a place on the bench for Davide Moscardelli and new signing Alberto Paloschi (a former Parma man).
Graziano Pelle’ had the best chance to open the scoring early on but flashed his header from Danielle Gallopa’s cross just wide. Chievo seemed quite happy to sit back and soak up all the Parma pressure early on and rely on their pace on the break. This all changed on 24 minutes however when Parma took the lead.
Pelle’ knocked down a long ball for Sebastian Giovinco, Marco Andreolli seemed to have it covered but slipped at the last moment allowing the former Juventus man to skip through unchallenged. Sorrentino slid at the frontmans feet but he scooped the ball over his body into the empty net behind him. Things went from bad to worse for the ‘flying donkeys’ as a bad late challenge from behind left skipper Sergio Pellissier in a heap on the half hour mark.
To his credit his dusted himself off and tried to continue but had to come off a couple of minutes later to be replaced by former Parma striker Alberto Paloschi. And so the scene was set for the second half.
Right at the start left back Bojan Jokic thumped a wonderful free-kick over the wall and against the crossbar with Parma keeper Mirante rooted to the spot. The Gialloblu were taking the game to Parma by this stage making and missing chance after chance.
Cyril Thereau skimmed the bar with another effort, Luca Rigoni smashed a shot just wide and midfielder Hetemaj headed another cross just wide. They finally made the breakthrough with eleven minutes remaining. Thereau did the hard work pushing through the middle, his shot was deflected into the path of substitute Paloschi who cut in from the wing and forced his shot in from a yard at the far post for his first goal in a Chievo shirt.
The Gialloblu tried to shut up shop for the final ten minutes to make sure they got a well earnt and impressive point. The scores were still locked level as the game ticked into the 90th minute. The fourth official signalled there would be five minutes stoppage time. Parma substitute Jonathan Biabiany burst away from Jokic and whipped a cross from the right which Giovinco applied the final touch to at the far post, extending his right leg to tuck the ball under Sorrentino.
His celebrations had to muted however having already been booked for diving earlier in the game. He got his marching orders in the 95th minute after a late challenge on Andrelloi saw him pick up his second yellow card. There was still enough time for substitute Michael Bradley to get around the back of the Parma defence and whip a wonderful low cross into the area but no-one was able to get a touch to it and Parma escaped again.
This leaves Chievo in lower mid-table with one point from two games. Their success of recent seasons has been built on a solid defence and a fantastic home record, making the Bentegodi into a fortress for them. This Wednesday sees a difficult home game with early pace-setters Napoli. The chances of the Gialloblu keeping this great home record seems to be very slim.
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enjoyed your match report Ben, but isn’t the Napoli game on Wednesday (not Tuesday)?