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Away-goals

Parma wins Italian Cup against Fiorentina

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Posted: Wednesday May 05, 1999 06:14 PM

Parma's players celebrate after winning the Italian Cup against Fiorentina on Wednesday night. AP

FLORENCE, Italy (AP) -- A right heel magic by Argentine striker Hernan Crespo and a perfect header by midfielder Paolo Vanoli earned Parma the Italian Cup on the away-goals rule Wednesday night following a two-leg final against Fiorentina.

The 2-2 draw in the second-leg at Florence's Artemio Franchi stadium added to a 1-1 first-leg tie for a 3-3 aggregate score.

Parma, taking advantage of the two goals tallied on the road, clinched its second Italian Cup in seven years. The team of Parma could also clinch the UEFA Cup in the May 12 final against Olympique Marseille in Moscow.

Fiorentina, out of contention for the league title, mised its only season target to the disappointment of 40,000 Florentine fans.

Crespo's 27th season goal, in the 43rd minute, gave Parma a 1-0 first-half lead. The young rgentine forward, who had also scored in the first leg, kicked in from a few meters on a perfect pass by Diego Fuser.

Two goals in fourteen minutes by Czech defender Tomas Repka and Italian midfielder Sandro Cois reversed the score and gave the home team a 2-1 lead by the 62nd minute.

Vanoli, fed by Enrico Chiesa, headed in the decisive goal with 19 minutes left.

Fiorentina's captain Gabriel Batistuta, the leading league scorer, was unimpressive and wasted a clear scoring chance in the 11th minute. Left unmarked close to the net, Batistuta kicked the ball into the hands of keeper Ginluigi Buffon.

Fiorentina's other South American star, Edmundo, was shutout by Parma's defense, masterminded by Liliam Thuram and Nestor Sensini.

It was the first title ever for Parma's young coach Alberto Malesani, who transfered from Fiorentina this season, while Fiorentina's veteran coach Giovanni Trapattoni missed his 21st career trophy.

"It was a hard-fought victory, achieved on Fiorentina's homefield. I think we deserved the Cup," said Crespo, who's getting used to scoring goals with heels in league and Cup matches.

Batistuta said Fiorentina did its best to clinch victory and the title.

"It was a tense, beautiful match. Parma never gave up while we were unable to protect the 2-1 lead," Batistuta said.

 

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