Atalanta 1 : 0 Parma - Boakye nets late Atalanta winner

Posted Sunday, October 19, 2014 by PA

Substitute Richmond Boakye condemned hapless Parma to a fourth straight Serie A defeat as Atalanta claimed their first home win of the season.

The Ghanaian striker appeared on the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia pitch for only 14 minutes but provided the key to unlock a Parma defence which looked ready to register a rare clean sheet.

Remarkably, Boakye's last-gasp goal was only a third of the entire campaign for profligate Atalanta, but their 1-0 victory propels them into mid-table while Parma remain mired in the relegation zone.

With the poorest forward line in the division taking on the leakiest defence, it was difficult to accurately predict what would happen in Bergamo.

Both clubs were in desperate need of points, however, and so the game started at a frantic pace.

Within minutes Boukary Drame forced a desperate block from Parma defender Felipe and Atalanta then went closer to scoring through German Denis, who was closed down by Alessandro Lucarelli.

The Gialloblu responded brightly, with Jose Mauri combining well with Antonio Cassano before mishitting his finish.

The latter soon teed up striker partner Andrea Coda for a shot from distance, but the ball whistled just over the bar.

Atalanta enjoyed the best of the rest of the half's play, with Maxi Moralez blasting wide when it had been easier to hit the target and Giulio Migliaccio heading inches past a post just before the break.

The Nerazzurri picked up where they left off following the restart and Moralez was unlucky not to find the back of the net when making a good connection from the middle of the penalty area.

The tide turned in the 55th minute when Parma came within inches of firing the opener.

Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello was left rooted to the spot when Afriyie Acquah's long-range effort arrived at high speed, but the ball swerved just wide of the mark at the last moment.

Daniele Baselli almost made a decisive impact from the bench, only for his left-footed drive to keep rising and clear the Parma bar.

Time was fast ticking away when Atalanta went closer still. On this occasion substitute Boakye missed the ball as it bobbled along the line as a result of Moralez's cross-cum-shot.

Parma thought they had weathered the storm, but the killer blow was just around the corner.

Just as 90 minutes flashed up on the scoreboard, Boakye showed Antonio Mirante no mercy when he fumbled Luca Cigarini's soft effort, the Ghanaian scoring Atalanta's first home goal of the season.