Coppa: Tommasi sinks Palermo Wednesday 12 April, 2006
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A Damiano Tommasi strike proved enough to eliminate Palermo on away goals, as Roma face Inter in the Coppa Italia Final for the second year running.
The Giallorossi knew they had to win in order to qualify for their second consecutive Final, having lost the first leg 2-1 in Sicily, so Coach Luciano Spalletti fielded a full-strength outfit. Unlike most Coppa ties this season, the Stadio Olimpico was almost full with many travelling fans making the trip.
Houssine Kharja had a couple of early chances, but it was Palermo who risked scoring a crucial away goal after 19 minutes.
Samuel Kuffour passed the ball straight to Andrea Caracciolo, who beat Alexander Doni at the second attempt and was denied by a Christian Panucci goalline clearance.
Damiano Tommasi just failed to turn in a Rodrigo Taddei cross and Cristian Zaccardo nodded over the bar, but the deadlock was finally broken on the half-hour mark.
Cesare Bovo’s cross from the left reached Tommasi for a precise header that levelled the scores on aggregate, giving Roma the upper hand on the away goals rule.
The veteran midfielder nearly netted another after fine work from Daniele De Rossi, but the Rosanero also remained dangerous and Doni slapped the ball away from Caracciolo and David Di Michele.
In the second half, Tommasi again ran on to Taddei’s pass, but was intercepted by Andrea Barzagli, as Roma began to focus on the counter-attack under pressure from Giuseppe Papadopulo’s men.
Fabio Grosso’s dipping left-foot strike from outside the area was well saved by Doni and Di Michele drilled over the bar.
It remained an open game, as Federico Agliardi took two touches to get a powerful Bovo free kick under control. Palermo star Di Michele was visibly angry with Coach Papadopulo after he was substituted for the final 17 minutes.
Simone Perrotta hesitated and wasted a good chance to put the result beyond doubt, then Amantino Mancini sprinted past Barzagli only to nestle his shot into the side-netting.
Cristian Terlizzi had the opportunity to win it for Palermo in stoppages, but Doni did well to save his close-range effort.
Nonetheless, Roma did enough to reach their second consecutive Coppa Italia Final on the away goals rule, 2-2 on aggregate. They’ll face Inter over two legs to decide who’ll lift the trophy in May.
Roma 1-0 Palermo (2-2 on agg, Roma win on away goals)
Scorers: Tommasi 30 (R)
Roma: Doni; Panucci, Kuffour, Chivu, Bovo; De Rossi, Dacourt (Perrotta 63); Kharja, Tommasi (Mexes 90), Mancini; Taddei (Rosi 70)
Palermo: Agliardi; Zaccardo, Barzagli, Terlizzi, Grosso; Tedesco, Corini (Codrea 53), Barone; Brienza (Makinwa 57), Di Michele (Godeas 78); Caracciolo
Ref: Racalbuto
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發表於 2006-4-12 01:09:23
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