Serie A match report: A.S Roma 1-1 A.C Siena- Vitiello compiles misery for Enrique: Part 2
Article continued from part 1 of the story
Both teams made a change each during the interval as Fernando Gago replaced Pizarro in the midfield for the hosts, while Pablo Andres Gonzalez replaced Angelo for the Tuscans.
The hosts started the second-half in hope to ease off some pressure and maintain a strong foothold on the match. Skipper, Francesco Totti, nearly made it happen with a lovely pass for Simone Perrotta but the veteran star could
not test the goalkeeper with his effort.
The newcomers continued to impress in the second half as Francesco Bolzoni found himself in space and decided to have a go from 30 yards but only to see his shot miss the post by few inches.
Immediately after that chance, Osvaldo tried his luck from distance but Zeljko Brkic palmed it away to safety with a decent save.
Siena had a huge shout for a penalty turned down in the 52nd minute of the game, when Kjaer hauled down Gonzalez inside the box and the replays clearly showed that the Danish star was the guilty party.
The visitors continued to disturb the opposition as Enrique looked dissatisfied with his team’s efforts. Giuseppe Sannino decided to make another change just after the hour mark, as Claudio Terzi replaced Paolo Grossi in the 61st
minute.
The Roma full-back made a lovely run in the box and let fly a lovely strike from 35-yards, which was brilliantly saved by Brkic to deny the hosts. Enrique decided to use his second substitution in the 64th minute, as
Borini came on for Borriello.
Totti had a lovely chance to double his team’s advantage in the 66th minute, as Totti’s free-kick from 25-yards was met by a brilliant diving save by the Siena goalkeeper.
The Tuscans had their best opportunity of the game in the 67th minute, when Gonzalez’s header was cleared off the line by Kjaer. A fine stop from the former Wolfsburg star kept the hosts on bay.
The Giallorossi kept 70% of the possession but the visitors looked extremely dangerous on the counter attack. The two teams decided to make their final subs in the 74th minute, as Cicinho replaced Perrotta while Andrea
Rossi replaced Cristiano Del Grosso.
The hosts kept the pressure for the second goal as Miralem Pjanic unleashed a fierce shot from 30-yards but the ball went whiskers away from the near post. Nicolas Burdisso picked up the first booking of the game in the 78th
minute for a late challenge on Brienza.
Pjanic had another glorious opportunity to double his team’s advantage in the 81st minute but his thumping effort missed the far post by few centimetres.
The brave visitors were resolute in the defence and also pushed hard for the leveller. Gonzalez made a fine run in the Roma box and took a shot from inside the area which flew past the post to deny Siena once again.
Just when it looked like the Roma side will nick their way to a close fought win, Vitiello provided his team with a lucky goal in the 88th minute. Brienza’s lovely effort from close range rattled against the cross bar
but luckily for Siena the ball rebounded straight into the path of the defender, who slotted home to make it 1-1 and register the first goal of the 2011/12 Serie A for his team.
Stadio Olimpico Rome was stunned into silence as the glow of first win started to fade for the Giallorossi.
The hosts tried their best to snatch a late winner but Sannino’s men showed nerves of steel to play a well deserved draw.
Roma: Lobont; Perrotta (Cicinho 74), Kjaer, Burdisso, Jose’ Angel; Pjanic, De Rossi, Pizarro (Gago 46); Borriello (Borini 65), Totti, Osvaldo
Siena: Brkic; Vitiello, Pesoli, Contini, Del Grosso (Rossi 74); Angelo (Gonzalez 46), Bolzoni, Vergassola, Grossi (Terzi 63); Brienza, Calaiò
Roma will play their next game away to Parma on Sunday, September 25, 2011, while Siena host Lecce the same day.