New Delhi: Roma have dropped two costly points in their quest for fourth place after a late goal from Ciccio Cozza earned Serie A's bottom-side a share of the spoils at the Stadio Granillo
Roma were in excellent form coming into this clash, having taken 26 points out of a possible 30 from their last 10 games. The Giallorossi had a lengthy injury list to contend with though, as Montella, Cassetti, Perrotta, Totti, Vucinic, Baptista, Riise, and Panucci were all out. There was a young attack, as Jeremy Menez helped lend support to Stefano Chuka Okaka.
Nevio Orlandi was back in the dugout for Reggina, following the sacking of coach Giuseppe Pillon. The Calabrians desperately needed to start picking up points as they were rock-bottom of the league, with just 14 points from 21 games. Giosa, Cascione, Vigiani, and key man Franco Brienza were sidelined through injury, while Carlos Carmona was suspended.
First Half
Both teams struggled to adapt to the heavy, wet, muddy playing surface in the early stages of the game, although Philippe Mexes almost managed to decisively get his head on a ring-wing free kick.
On 17 minutes, Edgar Barreto burst through the Roma defence, but his tame toe-poked effort got caught up in the waterlogged surface, and it was easy for Alexander Doni. There was a similar scenario down the other end when Okaka attempted a shot on goal.
Reggina threatened again midway through the half, as Cicinho was forced into a crucial block on Antonino Barilla's goal-bound volley.
Davide Di Gennaro embarked on a stunning solo run, leaving Daniele De Rossi and Juan for dead, but he was forced wide by Doni, and nothing came of the opening.
On 32 minutes, Roma created their best chance of the game so far, as Okaka turned Valdez, rounded goalkeeper Andrea Campagnolo, but was then denied a goal when Maurizio Lanzaro threw himself in front of the ball.
Reggina finished the half strongly, and regained the territorial advantage. After a spell of pressure, they were awarded a penalty on 42 minutes when the referee adjudged Mexes to have dragged Bernardo Corradi to the ground inside the area. Corradi took the spot-kick himself, and sidefooted the ball straight down the middle of the goal to give the home side the lead.
However just a couple of minutes later, Roma immediately got back on level terms thanks to an absolutely stunning goal from David Pizarro. The little Chilean let fly with a rocket of a shot from 30 yards that flew into the top corner, leaving Campagnolo no chance.
Second Half
Reggina immediately tested Doni after half time, as Barreto headed into the arms of the Brazilian.
Roma then missed a fine chance to take the lead, as Okaka's first touch let him down as he bored down on goal, allowing Campagnolo to beat him to the ball.
Matteo Brighi also wasted a fine opening, as he shot into the side-netting when well placed eight yards out.
The weather conditions were causing havoc, and there were players flying all over the place in the Roma box as the impressive Di Gennaro went on another slalom, ending in Corradi lashing wide.
Bruno Cirillo replaced Lanzaro at the back for Reggina, and just minutes later he conceded a penalty for holding Okaka. Campagnolo saved Pizarro's spot-kick, but the goalkeeper could do nothing to prevent the midfielder from scoring his and Roma's second of the game.
Reggina tried to react with long-range efforts from Cirillo and Barreto that flew off-target.
Okaka continued to cause problems for the Amaranto defence, and his powerful shot on the turn was saved superbly by the feet of Campagnolo. The goalkeeper then dived on another effort, this time from substitute Alberto Aquilani.
Reggina were not really threatening at this stage, but out of nowhere they got back on level terms. A disastrous error by Roma substitute Simone Loria gifted the ball to Francesco Cozza, who fired past Doni from 12 yards.
Roma threw everyone forward after conceding the equaliser, but they could not find a third goal, and will undoubtedly see this as two costly points dropped in the race for fourth place. Reggina, meanwhile, receive a much-needed boost in their fight against relegation.
Teams
Reggina: Campagnolo, Lanzaro (Cirillo 53), Santos, Valdez, Krajcik (Sestu 76), Barreto, Cozza, Barilla, Costa, Di Gennaro (Rakic 67), Corradi
Roma: Doni, Cicinho, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto, Taddei (Loria 80), De Rossi, Brighi, Pizarro, Menez (Aquilani 66), Okaka
Goals
Corradi 42 pen (Re)
Pizarro 45 (Ro)
Pizarro 58 (Ro)
Cozza 81 (Re)
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