|
Cristiano Lucarelli came to the rescue with a great winner at Auxerre to continue Livorno’s UEFA Cup dream.
The Amaranto needed a victory to reach the next round of the competition, but the French side could go through with a draw. Coach Daniele Arrigoni fielded his best formation with Cristiano Lucarelli and Ibrahima Bakayoko upfront.
The match almost didn’t kick off at all due to fog surrounding the Stade Abbè Deschamps, but that danger passed before the teams came out on to the pitch.
Auxerre had a strong start and went close early on through Cheyrou’s header off target, while Akale nodded a cross from the left just over the bar.
Livorno left the initiative to the home side, but came out of their shells after the opening 20 minutes. Lucarelli brought a tough save out of Cool, punching away a fierce drive from the edge of the area.
Just three minutes later the captain and former Serie A Capocannoniere again threatened, his splendid free kick skimming the frame of the goal.
The French side created a good scoring opportunity on 33 minutes, as Sagna ran down the right flank and cut in for Pieroni, who fired inches past the upright.
The best chance of the first half was Livorno’s, though. Rahman Rezaei exchanged passes with Marc Pfertzel down the left and the Frenchman offered the ball to Dario Passoni, but he stumbled and failed to get enough contact on his shot to get it past Cool.
Just before the break the Auxerre goalkeeper rushed out to clear from Lucarelli as he ran on to Bakayoko’s assist.
Cheyrou dispossessed Pfertzel to fire wide, while Jelen won back the ball on the edge of the area and struck off target.
The deadlock was eventually broken on the hour mark and, as so often happens, it was the captain who gave Livorno their opener. Lucarelli rose to nod Passoni’s corner kick under the bar and give the Italians a precious lead.
Auxerre poured forward in retaliation and 120 seconds later Giovanni Pasquale was forced into a goalline clearance on Pieroni’s strike.
Marco Amelia confirmed his fine form this season with a spectacular flying save to tip Pieroni’s header out of the top corner of the net.
| 
