Football
2014-15 Italian Serie A
PAR 
0
FT
 CVO
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PA Sport 9y

Parma 0-1 Chievo Verona

Stricken Parma suffered a debilitating blow in their struggle to survive in Serie A as Chievo handed them a 1-0 defeat at Stadio Ennio Tardini on Wednesday night.
The financially-troubled Ducale club - this week the subject of a second takeover inside two months - needed to beat fellow relegation battlers Chievo to ignite a rare spark of hope.
But despite a bright start, Daniele Galloppa's first-half dismissal weakened an already-fragile side, allowing Ervin Zukanovic space to score the winner on 54 minutes.
Parma, who must pay six months of outstanding wages by Monday, are now 12 points from safety, with 17th place now occupied by Chievo following their first league win of 2015.
Nothing but victory would suffice for Roberto Donadoni's Gialloblu and they went all-out for an early goal to signal their intent.
Albano Bizzarri was switched on when Silvestre Varela's cross-shot sailed in from the right and the Chievo goalkeeper did brilliantly to parry Antonio Nocerino's volleyed swipe at Mattia Cassani's pinpoint cross.
McDonald Mariga blasted over the crossbar following a corner, allowing Chievo to rally and go close through Ezequiel Schelotto, who smashed Perparim Hetemaj's clever pass wide.
Parma's ability to dominate was to be tested from the half-hour mark onwards as Galloppa got himself dismissed thanks to two rash tackles.
The midfielder was booked for impeding Mariano Izco before roughly tripping Hetemaj five minutes later, and a second yellow card translated to red.
The hosts managed to compose themselves, however, and Zouhair Feddal enjoyed the last chance of the half as he pinged Cristian Rodriguez's pass just over the bar.
Parma went even closer when play resumed following the break.
Bizzarri could not get hold of the ball with Feddal lurking but the Chievo defence somehow managed to clear a series of panicked shots by the Moroccan.
The wasted opportunity would hurt Parma immediately as Zukanovic steered home a free-kick to boost the Flying Donkeys into the lead six minutes before the hour.
Sergio Pellissier might have doubled Chievo's lead straight away but Antonio Mirante blocked his stab at Ruben Botta's assist.
The diminutive striker came closer in the 67th minute, with Mirante forced to make a desperate low save with his legs to deny Chievo their second goal.
Parma rallied and soon put together a fine passing move that saw Nocerino apply the final touch to a move involving Rodriguez and Ishak Belfodil, but Bizzarri had it covered.
Chievo should have put the game to bed inside the last 10 minutes as Botta sneaked into a good position only to mess up his finish, sending the ball out for a corner.
Substitute Riccardo Meggiorini elicited a wonder save from the under-siege Mirante as time ticked away and the former Torino man soon fluffed his lines with a second attempt.
Their mission to equalise unrealistic in the final exchanges, Parma were happy enough to resist the onslaught, although the defeat should prove critical to their long-term prospects.
ends

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