Parma 0 : 0 Siena - Stalemate for Parma

Posted Sunday, November 11, 2012 by PA

Parma are still unbeaten at home in Serie A since March but a goalless draw with Siena did little to boost their chances of securing European football.

The Crociati dominated proceedings but could not find a way past a resilient Gianluca Pegolo, whose impressive goalkeeping earned Siena a valuable point in their quest for survival.

Former Parma midfielder Francesco Valiani might have nicked a lucky win for the visitors, but home stopper Antonio Mirante preserved his side's record at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.

With time running out in Emilia-Romagna, Jonathan Biabiany tried an audacious backheel, but Felipe dal Belo clawed the ball off the goalline.

Brazilian striker Amauri tested Pegolo in the early exchanges, before Aleandro Rosi came close to breaking the deadlock with a close-range header.

The profligate Biabiany tried his luck from distance but Pegolo was relieved to see the ball sail high over the bar.

Parma continued to push forward and Marco Parolo almost made the most of a goalmouth scramble to slot home before the break, instead stabbing the ball wide.

As play resumed, Ishak Belfodil missed the top corner by a matter of inches after Biabany had produced another aimless strike.

Chances were at a premium for Serse Cosmi's Siena, but Mirante had to stand tall to repel Valiani after Cristiano Del Grosso wrongfooted the Parma backline with a low cross.

World Cup winner Cristian Zaccardo rattled a post with Pegolo well-beaten and Valiani was off target at the other end, before the hosts spurned one last chance to plunder all three points.

A corner sparked a scramble inside Siena's box, thanks to Pegolo's failure to catch the ball, but Biabiany's clever backheel was hooked clear by Felipe.

Roberto Donadoni's Parma remain tethered to eighth place in the table, while Siena stay bottom of the pile with just seven points to