Elvis Abbruscato had Parma all shook up when the frontman struck the first goal on 49 minutes. Substitute Vladimir Weiss then added a spectacular solo strike with virtually the last kick of the game.
Pescara vs Parma, Final Score 2-0: Elvis saves Stroppa from the sack
Pescara secured only their third victory of the season to end Parma’s three game winning streak and ease the pressure on coach Giovanni Stroppa.
Stroppa’s side were the lowest scorers going in, having failed to score in their last four games. The under fire coach had taken his squad into il ritiro (seclusion) for four days in preparation.
Simone Romagnoli and Giuseppe Colucci sat out bans, while Christian Terlizzi and Alessandro Crescenzi were injured. Vladimir Weiss surprisingly started from the bench.
Parma were without suspended Ishak Belfodil and injured goal getter Amauri, so Dorlan Pabon was given a chance to impress.
Pescara lost influential midfielder Manuele Blasi to a thigh injury after only 17 minutes.
It took 25 minutes for the game to spark into life. A corner fell to Marco Capuano in the box who swivelled onto his left foot and thrashed a shot over. The defender really should have done better.
Parma's best chance fell to Pabon after 33 minutes. The Colombian expertly turned his marker and curled a 30 yard drive just wide of Mattia Perin's near post.
Four minutes later, Perin fumbled a ball under pressure from Jonathan Biabiany. Rather than roll the ball across to Pabon, Biabiany had a second bite at goal himself, but Uros Cosic was on the line to clear.
Pescara had two good chances in stoppage time. Abbruscato’s dangerous low cross was cut out by Yohan Benalouane. Emanuele Cascione then chested down a ball in the box, only to slip at the crucial moment and balloon over.
Pescara took a deserved lead four minutes into the second half. Abbruscato put Gabriel Paletta under pressure as he chased a high ball. The former Liverpool defender chose to let it bounce, allowing Abbruscato to muscle him off, run clear and steer a shot past Antonio Mirante. Elvis ran to celebrate with the Ultras and was booked for removing his shirt.
Parma almost scored an instant equaliser. Alessando Lucarelli rose highest from a set play and Perin flew across goal with a one handed stop to claw a header off the line. Abbruscato acrobatically tried for a second, but his overhead kick was easily saved.
Weiss came on and almost added a second, when he was allowed to cut inside and flash just over the bar.
Biabiany headed Parma’s final chance of note wide on 79 minutes. In the last minute, Mirante had to run out and kick the ball clear from Weiss, who had been threaded through.
The former Manchester City man did have the final say in stoppage time. After picking the ball up on the halfway line, Weiss went on a mazy run, leaving the Parma defenders in his dust before stabbing the ball past Mirante and seeing his shot go in off the post.
Pescara: Perin; Cosic, Capuano, Bocchetti; Zanon, Blasi, (Nielsen 17) Cascione, Modesto; (Balzano 75) Jonathas, (Weiss 67) Quintero; Abbruscato
Parma: Mirante; Benalouane, (Marchionni 81) Paletta, Lucarelli; Rosi, Morrone, (Sansone 60) Valdes, (Musacci 54) Parolo, Gobbi; Biabiany, Pabon
Goals: Abbruscato (Pe) 49, Weiss (Pe) 93
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