Saturday, December 12, 2009

Chievo 1-1 Atalanta



Atalanta continue the search for their first win of the season with Chievo ensuring the points were shared.

Simone Tiribocchi broke the deadlock for the visitors, but their lead lasted just five minutes with Sergio Pellissier hitting back for Chievo.

The draw was not enough to move Atalanta out of the bottom three, while Chievo sit eighth in the standings.

Manuel Lori had the first shot for the Flying Donkeys after seven minutes with a 25-yard drive which whistled narrowly wide.

Tiribocchi responded for Atalanta soon after, cutting inside his marker and firing in a left-footed shot which failed to trouble Stefano Sorrentino in the home goal.

Andrea Consigli then had his palms stung at the other end of the pitch by a long-range effort from Pablo Granoche, while Michele Marcolini followed up with a testing 20-yard volley which had the Atalanta keeper diving to keep out.

Chievo were beginning to get on top and Pellissier was unlucky not to give them the lead after 25 minutes.

Giampero Pinzi provided the perfect pass for the striker, but although his effort beat Consigli it came back off the post.

Pinzi then felt he should have a had a penalty four minutes later when he fell in the area under a challenge from Gianpaolo Bellini, but the referee waved away the protests.

The decision only served to fire up Pinzi, and he forced a good save from Consigli nine minutes before the interval with a fierce 30-yard effort.

Chievo continued to boss things at the start of the second h! alf and Mario Yepes came close to breaking the deadlock with a header from Marcolini's cross which went just over the bar.

Granoche also directed a header over for the Verona club, before Cristiano Doni gave Atalanta some breathing space with a run into the box at the other end although his final shot was poor.

The visitors took heart from the chance though, and threatened again with a low strike from substitute Fabio Ceravolo which went wide.

Atalanta then silenced the home crowd with the opening goal after 72 minutes. A Gyorgy Garics cross was headed against the post by Doni, but Tiribocchi was on hand to tap home the rebound.

Tiribocchi could have made it 2-0 moments later when he broke into the box, but he put the ball just over the bar.

And the missed chance came back to haunt the visitors after 77 minutes. A poor back-pass from Garics was intercepted by Pellissier and slotted home from close range.

Atalanta responded well to the blow, ! and piled on the pressure in the closing stages in the hope of finding a winner.

But luck was not on their side with Tiberio Guarente hitting the post with his late shot from the edge of the area.