Parma prevail in relegation play-off
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Article summary
Parma FC's 2-0 victory against Bologna FC overturned a first-leg deficit and sent their opponents down to Serie B.
Article body
Advantage lost
The Rossoblú held the initiative going into the game after Igli Tare's solitary goal at the Stadio Ennio Tardini on Tuesday night. However, after 17 minutes of the second leg, parity was restored as Mark Bresciano's corner was headed on by Domenico Morfeo and deflected in off Giuseppe Cardone's foot to bring the two-time UEFA Cup winners level on aggregate.
Gilardino glee
Parma's crucial second goal came on the stroke of half-time, with Bresciano again causing problems. The midfielder's cross was missed by Bologna defender Nicola Legrottaglie and Alberto Gilardino was on hand to stroke the ball beyond goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca. Bologna pushed forward after the break but failed to find a way past goalkeeper Sébastien Frey, as Parma held on to retain their top-flight berth.
Pagliuca pain
Bologna will join Atalanta BC and Brescia Calcio, who were relegated automatically, in Serie B after suffering a dramatic slump in form - picking up just four points from their final eight league games. Defeat was hard to take for goalkeeper Pagliuca, who with 569 Serie A appearances to his name, is one short of equalling the record set by Dino Zoff.
