LATE DRAMA AS TORINO END LOSING RUN

ITALY NEWS
LATE DRAMA AS TORINO END LOSING RUN
E-mail this article E-mail Article Print this article Print-Friendly Subscribe to sportinglife RSS feed Subscribe to RSS Feed
Digg this story post this story to del.icio.us - social bookmarking site Post to del.icio.us Facebook
Torino halted their run of four consecutive Serie A defeats and climbed out of the relegation zone after Cesare Natali grabbed a late winner to seal a 2-1 win over Catania.
All the goals came in a frantic seven-minute spell at the end of the second half, with Torino striking first when Rolando Bianchi headed home Aimo Diana's cross in the 82nd minute.
Catania equalised three minutes later when Jorge Martinez nodded home from Pablo Ledesma's corner.
But the home side stunned Catania with an 89th-minute winner when Natali's shot crept past goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri.
Catania defender Lorenzo Stovini was sent off in stoppage-time for crudely bringing down striker Nicola Ventola as he looked to sprint through and stretch Torino's lead.
Torino were the stronger side in the early stages and could have gone ahead in the 12th minute when midfielder Alessandro Rosina charged into the visitors' penalty area but saw his shot blocked.
Rosina had another chance after 31 minutes when he embarked on another solo run forward.
He surged into the 18-yard box again but this time Bizzarri made a great save with his feet.
Catania had been quiet but threatened three minutes later when midfielder Marco Biagianti tried a cheeky effort from out wide, looking to catch Matteo Sereni off guard.
Ignazio Abate was aware of the danger though and cut out the shot.
Catania should have gone in front in first-half stoppage-time when Ciro Capuano picked out Michele Paolucci who had time and space in the penalty area but could not convert the chance.
Torino were the first team to threaten in the second half.
Two minutes after the restart they were awarded a free-kick 22 yards from goal after Ledesma brought down striker Roberto Stellone.
Blerim Dzemaili took responsibility and Bizzarri did well to make the block with his body.
The breakthrough finally arrived when Bianchi made best use of Diana's cross to guide the ball past Bizzarri.
Giancarlo Camolese's side were rocked though when Catania hit back, as Martinez climbed above defender Claudio Rivalta to head home Ledesma's corner.
Without an away win in the league this season, Torino knew the importance of a home victory and Diana was again the architect for their winning goal.
He crossed from the right and although Natali's shot lacked power it was accurately directed and beat Bizzarri who was initially unsighted and then too slow to react.
Torino could have had a third goal when former Inter Milan striker Ventola broke through the Catania ranks but was brought down by Stovini who, as the last defender, was dismissed.
With Bologna losing, Torino took a one-point lead over the Rossoblu as they jumped out of the bottom three.