Pjanic late free kick lifts Roma over Parma 2-1

Parma 1-2 Roma: Pjanic Late Show Wins It For Giallorossi

Roma beat Parma 2-1 on Wedenesday evening at the Stadio Ennio Tardini in Serie A.

Adem Ljajic’s first half strike for the Lupi was cancelled out by Paolo De Ceglie’s header before Miralem Pjanicscored a late free-kick to seal three points for Rudi Garcia’s men.

The Giallorossi started the more positive and Antonio Mirante in the Parma goal had to be alert to field a couple of early deliveries from Greek left-back Jose Holebas.

Garcia’s side controlled the majority of possession in the opening twenty minutes but the Crociati made life difficult for their opponents by getting numbers behind the ball and as a result neither goalkeeper was tested during this period.

After threatening on a couple of occasions with swift counter attacks, Roma eventually opened the scoring on 27 minutes when Felipe and Cristiano Lucarelli switched off defensively allowing Ljajic enough space to latch onto a Francesco Totti through ball and finish past Mirante.

The first half continued in the same vein with Roberto Donadoni’s men camped in their own half and Roma attempting to pick their way through the numbers to force a second goal.

As it turned out, they were unable to do so and with Parma offering little attacking threat the scoreline remained 1-0 until half time.

Donadoni’s half time instructions appeared to be to press Roma further up the pitch and this allowed his side to be more ambitious going forward in the early stages of the second half.

Ten minutes into the half a long range effort from Antonio Cassano was pushed wide by Morgan De Sanctis and from the resulting corner De Ceglie capitalised on some slack marking to head home an equaliser.

The Ducali persisted with a slightly more open style of play and were almost caught out on 63 minutes when Gervinho broke forward at pace and played a square ball to an on-rushing Totti who fired a left-footed shot narrowly over the bar.

Parma reverted to a more cautious approach as the half wore on and the visitors were finding it difficult against their defensive organisation.

Alessandro Florenzi was introduced as a substitute and almost broke through on goal in the 80th minute but for an excellent last-ditch tackle by Felipe.

A short time later Felipe gave away a free-kick just outside his own penalty area for a foul on substitute Destro and with 88 minutes gone Pjanic stepped up to curl the ball beautifully into the top corner of Mirante’s goal and give his side the lead.

The final minutes of the game were played out and Roma held on for a 2-1 victory which, on the balance of play, was just about deserved.

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Parma and Fiorentina shared four goals and three red cards in an action-packed 2-2 draw at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.

After weathering an early storm, Parma took the lead through Antonio Cassano in the 39th minute, but Juan Cuadrado levelled almost immediately. Amauri put Parma in front once again before Viola defender Modibo Diakite was sent off.

Mati Fernandez levelled for the visitors five minutes from time before Gianni Munari and Borja Valero were dismissed in a tense finale. Fiorentina started brightly and pegged Parma back in their own half almost permanently through 30 minutes.

For all their excellent build-up play, they lacked a cutting edge with David Pizarro showing a particular reluctance to take a shot on goal, despite the ease with which he was able to waltz through the Parma defence. Alberto Aquilani was unable to get Alessandro Matri through on goal either as the Viola failed to turn their dominance into goals.

Parma punished them by taking the lead with only their second shot of the game, after Jonathan Biabany's curled effort missed the target, when Amauri cut into the area from the left and pulled the ball back to Cassano, who turned it home from eight yards out.

Their joy was short lived, though, with Fiorentina levelling within two minutes. Aquilani sent Matri down the left and his powerful cross was met beyond the near post by Cuadrado, who found the target despite the tight angle and speed of the delivery.

Parma regained the lead early in the second half when a foul by Pizarro gave them a penalty. Amauri stepped up to send Neto the wrong way, putting Parma in front for a second time.

It looked like they would keep their lead this time when Fiorentina were reduced to 10 men with Diakite picking up his second booking, but the visitors did not give up and Mario Gomez was sent on as Viola boss Vincenzo Montella gambled with an extra striker. Their pressure paid off with Fernandez curling a 25-yard free-kick beyond the reach of Antonio Mirante to bring Fiorentina level again five minutes from time.

Tempers flared going into stoppage time and the referee brandished his red card twice to send Munari and Valero off seconds before ordering the remaining 19 players down the tunnel with the final whistle.