Torino 1 : 0 FC Kobenhavn - Torino snatch late win

Posted Friday, October 03, 2014 by PA

A stoppage-time penalty from substitute Fabio Quagliarella earned Torino a 1-0 win over visiting FC Copenhagen in Thursday's Europa League Group B game.

Quagliarella struck home the spot-kick after he was judged to have been held in the box by Copenhagen defender Mikael Antonsson.

Torino had the better of the chances throughout the contest in Turin and were unlucky not to have taken a first-half lead after Emiliano Moretti's effort hit the crossbar.

The outcome is Toro's first win in the pool after they drew 0-0 at Club Brugge in their group opener a fortnight ago.

Toro are level on four points with group leaders Brugge, who won 3-0 at HJK Helsinki.

Copenhagen, who beat Helsinki in their first game, are third, just one point behind them.

The hosts dominated possession and were unlucky not to break the deadlock midway through the first half when Moretti's close-range header from Kamil Glik's cross beat Copenhagen goalkeeper Stephan Andersen but rebounded off the woodwork.

Shortly after, Cristian Molinaro warmed the hands of Andersen with a stinging drive from 30 yards which the visiting keeper saved.

Copenhagen could have taken a 1-0 lead before half-time but Andreas Cornelius' header from Pierre Bengtsson's cross went just wide.

Torino kept the pressure on after the restart and were almost rewarded in the 51st minute.

Andersen was forced to dive to his right to clear Josef Martinez's left-footed effort from 15 yards.

The visitors almost punished Toro in the 72nd minute when Alexander Kacaniklic found space in the box and curled a left-footed shot just over the bar.

At the other end, Juan Sanchez Mino's long-range attempt was saved by Andersen.

The home side never gave up and were rewarded at the death when the referee pointed to the penalty spot after Quagliarella went down in the box.

The veteran Quagliarella, who had come off the bench in the 73rd minute, made no mistake and struck the ball towards the far post and out of Andersen's reach.