Chievo make winning start
Last Updated: August 26, 2012 11:51pm
The hosts celebrate Cruzado's clincher
Chievo kicked off their Serie A season with a workmanlike 2-0 victory over Bologna at Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi.
Talismanic skipper Sergio Pellissier opened the scoring for the hosts in the second half and Rinaldo Cruzado doubled the lead 11 minutes from full-time.
Diego Perez saw red for the visitors with three minutes remaining to compound a disappointing opening day for Bologna.
Chievo almost broke the deadlock in the 25th minute when Cyril Thereau crossed from the right for Pellissier but the veteran frontman headed over.
Bologna's Saphir Sliti Taider and Pellissier then exchanged long-range efforts over the bar, while Thereau also unleashed an effort from 30 yards just before the interval but it was always sailing wide.
Alessandro Diamanti looked lively for Bologna at the start of the second period, showing good skills to deliver a dangerous low cross that evaded his team-mates, before taking aim with an effort from distance that was always rising.
The opening goal arrived in the 65th minute, Thereau again providing the supply line from the channel for Pellissier who stole in to convert a close-range header.
Pellissier should have doubled his tally after 74 minutes when he went through one-on-one with Bologna goalkeeper Federico Agliardi but failed to find the target when he pulled the trigger.
The win was wrapped up five minutes later, however, when Sequeira Luciano's free-kick picked out Cruzado, who drilled a left-footed effort low into the right corner.
Bologna's night was further soured in the 87th minute when Perez was penalised for a professional foul on Pellissier and received a straight red card.
Matches
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Italy Serie A
Table
Italy Serie A
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Juventus | 38 | 87 |
| 2 | Napoli | 38 | 78 |
| 3 | AC Milan | 38 | 72 |
| 4 | Fiorentina | 38 | 70 |
| 5 | Udinese | 38 | 66 |
| 6 | Roma | 38 | 62 |
| 7 | Lazio | 38 | 61 |
| 8 | Catania | 38 | 56 |
| 9 | Inter Milan | 38 | 54 |
| 10 | Parma | 38 | 49 |
| 11 | Cagliari | 38 | 47 |
| 12 | Chievo | 38 | 45 |
| 13 | Bologna | 38 | 44 |
| 14 | Sampdoria | 38 | 42 |
| 15 | Atalanta | 38 | 40 |
| 16 | Torino | 38 | 39 |
| 17 | Genoa | 38 | 38 |
| 18 | Palermo | 38 | 32 |
| 19 | Siena | 38 | 30 |
| 20 | Pescara | 38 | 22 |
