© EuroFootball.com
On Saturday, there were two matches of the 12th round of the Italian championship. After an impressive start to the season, "Palermo" suffered a defeat to "Cagliari", while "Milan" extended their crisis by failing to beat "Empoli".
Before the match between "Palermo" and "Cagliari", it was already clear that one club would end their streak after this game, as the hosts "Cagliari" managed to play eight draws in 11 rounds this season, while "Palermo" last played a draw nearly seven months ago. The home team broke the streak in this match, managing to beat their opponents by a minimal score of 1-0.
In the 45th minute, "Palermo" received bad news. The opponent's forward David Suazo was left alone against the goalkeeper and was brought down from behind by the defender Fabio Simplicio of the Sicilian club. For this last hope blunder, the Brazilian was sent off the field.
In the second half, "Cagliari" had good opportunities to score, but they managed to snatch the victory only just before the end of the match. The ball struck by David Suazo bouncing off several opponents landed right in front of "Cagliari" player Simone Pepe, who with an accurate strike defeated the opponents' goalkeeper and secured the victory for his team.
"Milan" continued their poor form by playing a 0-0 draw away to mid-table "Empoli", further diminishing their chances of competing for the "Serie A" title this year.
However, in this match, the Milan club could complain about the lack of luck, as the Brazilian Ricardo Oliveira hit the crossbar twice, and one shot was cleared off the goal-line by the opponents' defender.
In the 20th minute, the ball hit by the forward obstructed the opponents' defender and changed direction, hitting the crossbar, and a few seconds later, the Brazilian headed in a corner kick towards the goal, but "Empoli" was saved from conceding by the defenders clearing the ball off the goal line. Just before the end of the first half, Ricardo Oliveira cursed his luck again as his shot, leaving the helpless opponent's goalkeeper, hit the crossbar.
Saturday's match results:
1 – 0
90` [1 – 0] Simone Pepe
45` Fabio Simplicio sent off the field ("Palermo")
0 – 0
Top scorers of the championship:
1. Christian Rigano ("Messina") - 8;
2-5. Amauri ("Palermo") - 6;
Igor Budan ("Parma") - 6;
Rolando Bianchi ("Reggina") - 6;
Eugenio Corini ("Palermo") - 6;
