US Sassuolo Calcio 1 - 0 Chievo: Sassuolo hold on for valuable win
Posted Sunday, April 05, 2015 by PA
Domenico Berardi struck from the penalty spot to hand 10-man Sassuolo a 1-0 home triumph over Chievo on Saturday.
The Italy Under-21 international forward earned and converted the spot-kick in the 23rd minute to clinch three vital points for Sassuolo in their battle to maintain their Serie A status.
Chievo had been unlucky not to take an 18th-minute lead after striker Riccardo Meggiorini saw his left-footed volley hit the crossbar with Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea Consigli rooted to the spot.
Sassuolo also survived the 59th-minute dismissal of defender Federico Peluso, who was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Ezequiel Schelotto, as they claimed the win that lifts them up to 12th in the standings, 13 points clear of the relegation zone.
Chievo, meanwhile, saw their unbeaten four-match run halted and dropped to 16th place, 10 points above the bottom three.
Both teams went into the encounter level on 32 points but with Sassuolo in the midst of a poor run which had seen them lose five of their last six league games.
And they could have been trailing inside the opening 20 minutes here as Meggiorini's powerful attempt from 14 yards struck the woodwork.
Three minutes later the referee awarded the hosts a penalty after Chievo's Davide Biondini brought down Berardi in the box.
Berardi stepped up and slotted his spot-kick out of Chievo goalkeeper Albano Bizarri's reach.
Chievo almost pulled level in the 32nd minute but Alberto Paloschi's header from Valter Birsa's cross went just over the bar.
Before the break, Floro Flores nearly doubled Sassuolo's lead but his powerful attempt from the edge of the area was wide of the far post.
Sassuolo's hopes of holding onto their lead were hit just before the hour when Peluso was given his marching orders.
The home side then had a let off in the 69th minute when Chievo substitute Ruben Botta's goal-bound shot was superbly saved by Consigli.
Chievo could not get any closer than that in the closing stages, though, as Sassuolo held on for their eighth win of the campaign.
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