Parma defeated Sassuolo 3-1 at the Ennio Tardini Stadium on Sunday afternoon in Serie A.
Goals from Antonio Cassano and Aleandro Rosi gave 10-man Parma victory after a controversial penalty decision allowed the Neroverdi’s Domenico Berardi to cancel out Raffaele Palladino’s opener for the Gialloblu as Antonio Mirante and Lino Marzorati saw red.
In a first-half that began slowly Parma coach Roberto Donadoni was forced into an early change after an innocuous challenge on Jonathan Biabiany by Reto Ziegler forced the Frenchman off and was replaced by Rosi.
With neither goalkeeper still to be tested the home side had the ball in the net, but with Palladino offside by some distance the goal was ruled out. However, with the ball first played to Cassano who was possibly level with the last defender the Italian striker vented his frustration at the referee Andrea De Marco.
With little protest from Cassano’s teammates probably indicated that the official had got the decision right and with the Neroverdi defence stepping up to catch his strike partner offside would have been harsh on the visitors.
On 30 minutes the match finally produces a shot on target as Simone Missiroli was allowed to strike at goal from 20 yards, but saw his shot palmed round the post by Mirante.
Moments later the Ducali had taken the lead. Sassuolo defender Francesco Acerbi hesitating as he attempted to shield the ball out of play was dispossessed by Cassano who then chipped a cross over for Palladino to nod home.
With the half looking as though it would end with the hosts in from another mistake lead to the Neroverdi equaliser. A poor pass back to Mirante from Massimo Gobbi was too short and Berardi broke on the Parma keeper only to be barged off the ball as he rounded him.
Alessandro Lucarelli’s goal line clearance from the follow up shot looked as though it had saved Parma but the officials were now debating the challenge and, after three minutes of discussions, awarded a penalty and sent off Mirante.
Five minutes into injury time goal scorer Palladino was replaced by goalkeeper Pavol Bajza, but it made little difference as Berardi rolled the ball past the Slovakian.
Lifted by their late first-half equaliser Sassuolo started the second period the brighter and nearly took the lead, Simone Zaza brilliantly controlling a lofted ball on his chest in yards from goal but could only poke his shot wide.
On 65 minutes the Neroverdi went slightly closer to getting a second when substitute Antonio Floro Flores struck a low curling effort from distance. With Bajza beaten it cannoned of the foot of his right post.
With the visitors pressing it was the 10 men of Parma that got their second against the run of play when Cassano made space to cross from the left to find substitute Rosi who headed past Gianluca Pegolo.
As Eusebio De Francesco’s side looked to exploit their advantage and get back on level terms Cassano broke the offside trap to control a long ball on his chest and thrashed the ball past Pegolo.
With the game beyond the visitors captain Marzorati was harshly judged to have handled the ball and was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Follow Kevin Pogorzelski on Twitter: @rabbitrabbiton
