Bologna nearly safe

Posted Sunday, May 15, 2011 by PA

Bologna all but mathematically secured their place in Serie A next season with a 1-1 draw at local rivals Fiorentina.

Alessio Cerci put the home team in front in the 20th minute, but Bologna hit back with a strong second half which should have seen them take all three points.

Gaston Ramirez brought them level in the 50th minute before Marco Di Vaio missed a penalty as Per Kroldrup was sent off.

The visitors should have had another penalty late on, but a mistake by the referee saw Bologna striker Gaston Ramirez instead shown the red card as both sides ended the match with 10 men, and a point each.

Bologna can now only go down if they lose their last game of the season and Sampdoria win both of their remaining games while Lecce also pick up four points from their last two matches.

Fiorentina began strongly with Cerci muscling his way into the penalty area in the 16th minute, but volleying straight at Emiliano Viviano.

He made no mistake four minutes later as he met Juan Vargas' cross from the left touchline with his head to beat Viviano from seven yards out and put the Viola in front.

The home side were fully in control of the game throughout the first half and could have gone in at the break two up when Alberto Gilardino was sent through on goal, but after touching the ball wide of Viviano, he lifted his shot over the open goal.

Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastien Frey, making his return to the starting XI after over six months out injured, was called into action only once in the first 45 minutes and he showed excellent concentration to push Francesco Della Rocca's curling free-kick away.

Bologna were transformed at the start of the second half and an error by Kroldrup allowed Daniele Paponi in, but he shot wide of the far post in the 49th minute.

Bologna levelled a minute later with Diego Perez's cross from the right headed in by Ramirez from six yards.

Another error by Kroldrup offered Bologna the chance to go ahead in the 54th minute when he fouled Di Vaio inside the penalty area and was shown a red card.

But Di Vaio sent his spot-kick over the crossbar.

More confused defending allowed Di Vaio to shoot from 20 yards out in the 62nd minute, but Frey was in the right place to make an instinctive save.

Bologna should have had another penalty in the 80th minute when Vargas clearly clipped Ramirez inside the penalty area, but the referee thought differently.

He showed Ramirez a yellow card for diving and then he showed the Bologna forward a second yellow as he protested to Vargas to tell the referee the truth.

Rather than having another spot-kick to possibly win the game, Bologna were also left with 10 men for the last 10 minutes, which they played down to earn a point which should be enough to save them from the drop.

end