Rosina and Abbiati: the dream continues!

di Andrea Rosselli

The dream continues: Toro collected the 5th straight positive result (four wins and one draw) by defeating Ascoli 2-0 with two goals by a superb Alessandro Rosina, whuile Abbiati saved a penalty kick right at the 90th minute when the score was still 1-0 for Toro.

In the first half, both teams confirmed all of their big offensive problems. The worst offences of the league struggled to say the least against the respective back lines, and the lone scoring chances curiously came after a few seconds for Toro (shot by De Ascentis well saved by 40 year-old Pagluica) and right before halftime for Ascoli (right-footer by Boudianski stopped by Di Loreto almost on the goal line).

Between these two opportunities, almost 45 minutes without emotions. Ascoli put a big pressure in the middle and the Granata just couldn’t find any space for their attacks, especially on the wings, also because Rosina looked much less inspired than in the previous weeks; on the other side, Toro’s defence didn’t have any problem in limiting the hosts’ one-dimensional offence, with Bjelanovic rarely supported by wingers Fini and Guberti.

Just like last week against Milan, Toro looked a totally different team at the beginning of the second half. The Granata took control of the midfield, even after the loss of Diego De Ascentis, who picked up a muscular injury and was replaced by Gallo, while Rosina started to show his immense talent. After 12 minutes, the awesome play that changed the match: the diminutive forward received the ball in Toro’s half and started one of his incredible runs towards the opponent’s box, dribbling three opponents: the last one took him down inside the box and the referee awarded the clear penalty kick, Rosinaldo didn’t miss the chance and gave Toro the lead.

The Granata defended their lead without any problem and missed several big chances to score the second goal, especially after the ejection of Ascoli’s winger Minieri, with Stellone, Comotto and Rosina. Ascoli never threatened Toro’s net, but in the last minute Di Loreto took down striker Paolucci inside the box: penalty kick for the hosts and ejection for the former Fiorentina defender. Abbiati, however, blocked Bjelanovic’s shot with a superb dive, and on the following counterattack a perfect cross by Comotto was volleyed home by Rosina: 2-0, the European dream is always closer