AS Roma 1 - 1 Brescia: Borriello joy doesn't last

Posted Wednesday, February 02, 2011 by PA

Roma missed a chance to move into third place in Serie A after being held to a 1-1 draw by Brescia at the Stadio Olimpico.

Marco Borriello put Roma in front shortly before the hour mark but the joy was shortlived as the visitors equalised 11 minutes later through Eder.

Brescia were unlucky not to claim all three points after one of their most impressive performances of the last few months.

Brescia substitute Davide Lanzafame saw his 25-yard strike hit the woodwork with a minute from time.

The result has left Roma fourth in the standings, two points behind city rivals Lazio but Claudio Ranieri's side has a game in hand.

Brescia, meanwhile, remain second-bottom, three points from safety.

Julio Sergio had a very busy night in the Roma goal.

He denied Alessandro Diamanti, keeping out his 35-yard effort early on.

Then in the 26th minute, Julio Sergio saved Eder's right-footed shot from outside the area.

Roma had their first chance on the half-hour mark but Fabio Simplicio blasted his shot wide from a good position.

Borriello could have broken the deadlock for the hosts in the 35th minute but his 10-yard header from Marco Cassetti's cross went over the bar.

Roma twice had the opportunity to go in front before the break.

Brescia goalkeeper Michele Arcari made his first save of the evening in the 37th minute to deny Marco Cassetti, whose bullet strike from outside the area was on target.

On the stroke of half-time, Mirko Vucinic hit the ball wide from the heart of the area.

Roma continued to threaten after the break and should have taken a 51st minute lead but Vucinic's header from Jeremy Menez's cross crashed off the bar with Arcari already beaten.

The hosts continued to push forward and their efforts were rewarded in the 58th minute.

Borriello latched onto a loose ball and hit it from the heart of the area past Arcari.

The goal did not hinder the visitors, who surged forward in search of an equaliser and found it.

Eder headed the ball powerfully from Perparim Hetemaj's cross to beat Julio Sergio.

Two minutes later, Lanzafame was in position to score from 10 yards but Julio Sergio denied the visitors.

Then Roma could have sealed all three points with 11 minutes remaining after Borriello fed Francesco Totti inside the box but his close-range effort went just wide of the far post.

The last chance went to Brescia but the woodwork denied Lanzafame.

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