Ref blunder robs Parma of shock win

ROME: Ten-man Parma came within minutes of inflicting a first league defeat on champion Inter Milan this season but was robbed by a refereeing error at the San Siro on Sunday, losing 3-2.

Parma had put in a spirited performance and with the clock ticking down, it held a slender 2-1 advantage.

But a dreadful penalty decision gave Inter the chance to equalize and then top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic snatched the three points deep into injury time to leave Parma brokenhearted and the rest of Serie A despondent.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini admitted his side had been lucky.

"We didn't play particularly well, Parma fully deserved a draw," he said.

Esteban Cambiasso had escaped in the box to fire Inter in front on the half hour but a clinical finish from Luca Cigarini 10 minutes later restored parity and 21 minutes from time Andrea Gasbarroni fired Parma in front.

Inter turned on the pressure and in the dying minutes were awarded a highly controversial penalty for an apparent goal-saving handball by veteran Portuguese defender Fernando Couto.

Swede Ibrahimovic stepped up to blast home the spot kick on 88 minutes but television replays showed it should never have been awarded.

Despite having an out-stretched arm, Couto got his head to the ball to divert an Ibrahimovic shot wide but the linesman signaled a penalty and Couto was red-carded.

While that goal was contentious, the winner was emphatic.

Ibrahimovic controled a cross from substitute Julio Cruz before thrashing the ball home from close range.

Ibrahimovic praised his team's never-say-die attitude.

"We won thanks to our hard work and desire which are our qualities," he said.

That result will not only have upset Parma, but also Roma, who comfortably beat Catania 2-0 at home, as it was minutes away from finally cutting Inter's seven-point lead at the top, but it was not to be.

In a game marred by crowd violence before the game, with three Catania fans suffering stab wounds, Frenchman Ludovic Giuly opened the scoring on eight minutes, mopping up the loose ball after Rodrigo Taddei's shot came back off the post.

Daniele De Rossi made the points safe just before the hour, scoring from the penalty spot after Taddei had been fouled in the area.

Alberto Gilardino scored an injury-time winner to give AC Milan a vital boost in its bid to secure Champions League qualification for next season as it won 1-0 at Udinese.

The three points meant Milan closed the gap on fourth-placed Fiorentina, which beat Torino 2-1 on Saturday, to 10 points, although the European champions still has three games in hand.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti allowed himself to get a little carried away as he praised his match-winner, whom he only introduced for the final eight minutes.

"Gilardino is a great player, in eight minutes he did more than Pato and Ronaldo did in 90 minutes," he said.

"I've always said it's not the amount of playing time that counts but the quality for a player who is getting less playing time. But he is a great player and is always ready when called upon."

Juventus stayed third but dropped to 12 points off Inter's pace as it was held 0-0 at home to Sampdoria.

AFP

(China Daily 01/22/2008 page22)