Round-up: Sicilians win
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ByEurosport
Published 29/04/2007 at 12:34 GMT
Sicilian duo Catania and Palermo have recorded their first Serie A wins for 13 and 12 matches respectively. Catania eased their relegation fears with a 1-0 triumph at eight-man Udinese, while Palermo beat Livorno 2-1.
FOOTBALL 2006-2007 Serie A Udinese-Catania Spinesi
Image credit: Eurosport
Elsewhere, an insipid Rome derby ended goalless and there were crucial victories for relegation-threatened Parma and Reggina.
Catania's last league triumph came on January 24, when they beat Empoli 2-1 to go fourth in the table.
However, their next home game against Palermo saw the tragic death of a policeman at the hands of hooligans.
The club have since played 'home' matches in northern Italian towns such as Rimini and Cesena, although they will return to Sicily for next Wednesday's game against Ascoli.
A run of eight defeats and four draws saw them slump dangerously close to the drop zone, but they returned to winning ways as Udinese imploded with three men being given their marching orders.
Marco Motta was sent off for bringing down Giuseppe Mascara when through on goal. Although the contact took place outside the box, a penalty was awarded and duly despatched by Gionatha Spinesi.
Any hopes of a Zebrette comeback were dashed when Antonio Di Natale and then Andrea Dossena were both ordered off, allowing Catania to stroll to victory.
Palermo had not won since that fateful night in Catania on February 2, but overcame Livorno 2-1 thanks to a deft chipped finish from David Di Michele 15 minutes from time. Eugenio Corini and Cesar had earlier exchanged penalties.
Parma moved further away from the drop zone with 2-1 triumph at home to Cagliari, with a penalty again decisive.
Andrea Gasbarroni slammed the winning spot-kick home in the 77th minutes after Igor Budan's opener had been cancelled out by a superb strike from Daniele Conti, who was later sent off.
Reggina eased their fears of dropping to Serie B with a 3-2 win over Ascoli, including two goals from Nicola Amoruso.
The day's showpiece event proved to be a damp squib as Roma and Lazio played out a dull derby stalemate at the Stadio Olimpico.
Neither goalkeeper was forced into a save of note, with both sides seemingly happy to take a point to further their Champions League ambitions.
In other games, Sampdoria won 2-0 away to Siena, while Messina and Atalanta shared the points after a goalless draw.
The results give the bottom half of the table a congested look with four full match days to go. Ascoli and Messina look doomed, but no fewer than eight clubs could still be sucked into that final relegation position.
Livorno, Catania, Parma, Reggina, Siena, Cagliari, Torino and Chievo all face a tense and potentially heartbreaking climax to the season.
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