UEFA Cup: Parma & Palermo secure wins; Livorno beaten

Thursday 19 October
Group H: Eintracht Frankfurt 1-2 Palermo
Palermo kicked off the group stages of the UEFA Cup with a 2-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt at the Commerzbank Arena. The German outfit did take the lead in the Group H tie, but goals from Franco Brienza and Cristian Zaccardo gave the Sicilians three points at the death. With one minute of added time at the end of the first half, the home side took the lead. The ball fell to Streit on the edge of the area and his left-footed strike rippled the net. Francesco Guidolin opted to keep faith with his starting line-up after the break and his belief was rewarded on 49 minutes. Brienza controlled a free kick with his chest to fire home the equaliser. With the clock running down a win was collected thanks to Zaccardo's goal. The Italian international defender perfectly collected a Roberto Guana cross to head past the goalkeeper in the 87th minute. Palermo are next in action on November 2 against Newcastle United at the Stadio Barbera.

Group D: Odense 1-2 Parma
Parma put behind their domestic problems to collect a precious 2-1 win at Odense in the UEFA Cup. The Gialloblu came from a goal down to pick up the three points in their first game of the group phase. The Danes took the lead thanks to their superiority in the air and because of some absent defending by the visitors. Hansen jumped highest and he comfortably nodded past Alfonso De Lucia. Parma, packed with youngsters, managed to keep their heads and also find an equaliser. After seeing Andrea Pisanu unsuccessfully attempt a chip, the Emilia outfit made it 1-1 just before half time. Maurizio Ciaramitaro’s shot struck the bar but Daniele Dessena was alert enough to nod in the rebound. Coach Stefano Pioli brought on Massimo Paci and Igor Budan at the break which delivered instant rewards. The latter took just five minutes to get his name on the scoresheet after he expertly collected a Dessena cross from the right. Parma held out for the three points after some late attacks from the home side to go top of Group D after the first 90 minutes of action. Parma play Heerenveen at home next on November 23.

Group A: Livorno 2-3 Rangers
Rangers became the first Scottish club to win a European tie in Italy with a sumptuous display to sink Livorno at the Stadio Armando Picchi. The Scottish giants made a nervy start as underlined by goalkeeper Lionel Letizi who was struggling to come to terms with the torrential rain in the Tuscan hills. Charlie Adam fired a stunning volley on 27 minutes following a Kris Boyd header. The second arrived from the penalty spot after Nacho Novo was brought down by Samuel Kuffour. Boyd put the ball down on the spot and he smashed it centrally into the goal past Marco Amelia on the half-hour mark. At two goals down, Livorno desperately needed to respond and they did almost immediately with a penalty of their own. Julien Rodriguez was adjudged to have impeded Luca Vigiani in the area and Cristiano Lucarelli converted his strike to make it 2-1. But thoughts of a comeback before half-time were crushed within 120 seconds as Rangers restored their lead. Nacho Novo drilling home Boyd's headed pass. Lucarelli scrambled home his second late on to give the home side some hope, but Rangers held on to secure a win which will leave them in a strong position to qualify from Group A. Livorno travel to Partizan Belgrade next.

Today's Other Results
Group A: Maccabi Haifa 3-1 Auxerre.
Group B: Besiktas 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur, Club Brugge 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen.
Group C: AZ Alkmaar 3-0 SC Braga, Slovan Liberec 0-0 Sevilla.
Group D: Osasuna 0-0 Heerenveen.
Group E: Wisla Krakow 1-2 Blackburn Rovers, FC Basel 1-1 Feyenoord.
Group F: Austria Vienna 1-4 Zulte Waregem, Sparta Rotterdam 0-2 Espanyol.
Group G: Panathinaikos 2-0 Hapoel Tel-Aviv, Rapid Bucharest 0-0 PSG.
Group H: Newcastle United 1-0 Fenerbahce.