Newz Forum: SOCCER: Italy's Serie A results 26/02/05

Relegation-haunted Fiorentina are still looking nervously over their shoulders at the foot of the Serie A table after throwing away a two-goal advantage to draw 2-2 with Champions League-chasing Udinese at the Artemio Franchi.

The Viola, who have now won just one of their last 10 matches, contrived to let slip a healthy lead that had been given to them by Valeri Bojinov - with his first goal for the club since his 9m move from Lecce in the January transfer window - and Luca Ariatti midway through the first half. But Udinese coach Luciano Spalletti, a self-confessed Fiorentina fan and former Viola player, saw his men claw their way back into the encounter with strikes either side of the interval by first Sulley Muntari and then Antonio Di Natale. They could have even gone on to snatch all three points, despite seeing Giampiero Pinzi red-carded late on, as the hosts rued the enforced departure of the 19-year-old Bojinov, who injured himself during the scoring of his goal.


Sampdoria earned a narrow 1-0 victory to maintain their challenge for a place in next year's Champions League but Brescia's relegation plight looks all the more desperate. Brescia performed gamely against the high-flying visitors from Genoa but never looked like getting their noses in front. However, Alberto Cavasin's side failed even to salvage a point as Max Tonetto's goal after 76 minutes eventually settled the match in favour of Samp.

Source: Sportinglife.com







[Edited on 27/2/05 by TRD]