Italy round-up: Parma on the up

Turkish striker Hakan Sükür's first goal for Parma AC helped them to a 2-1 win over Bologna FC on Saturday and pushed the club out of the relegation zone.

Perfect start
Sükür, who signed from Internazionale FC two weeks ago, scored Parma's second and decisive goal to give them real hope of avoiding the drop. Parma got the perfect start when Italian international Fabio Cannavaro headed goalwards in the sixth minute and Bologna defender Carlo Nervo deflected the ball past goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca.

Close-range goal
Sükür was left unmarked when the Bologna defence pushed out at a corner eight minutes later and slotted in from close range. Fabio Pecchia pulled a goal back eight minutes into the second half and that spurred a Bologna fightback.

Fine saves
Parma goalkeeper Sebastien Frey was forced to make fine saves from Julio Cruz, Luigi Della Rocca and Matteo Brighi. Brazilian defender Junior had a chance to kill the game off for Parma towards the end of the match when he beat the offside trap but hit a tame shot wide with only Pagliuca to beat.

Brighi sending off
Bologna's Brighi was sent off in injury time after wrestling with Marco Di Vaio when he was the last man in defence. The result pushes Parma up into 14th place with 21 points after 20 games, while Bologna are sixth on 31 points.