Reggina 2 - 1 Livorno

Reggina 2-1 Livorno

Updated: September 22, 2004, 11:15 PM UK

REGGIO CALABRIA, September 22 (Serie A) - Reggina held on for an important three points to deny newly-promoted Livorno their share of the spoils at the Stadio Oreste Granillo on Wednesday evening.

A goal just after the hour mark from Giuseppe Colucci settled the match in favour of the team from Reggio Calabria.

Earlier, Livorno defender Alessandro Lucarelli had equalised an eighth-minute goal for the hosts from Emiliano Bonazzoli.

Reggina thus maintain their unbeaten record of one win and two draws from their three Serie A matches while Livorno have only a point to show from their efforts on their return to the top flight.

Livorno had made the trip down Italy's west coast to play Reggina after Sunday's 2-1 home defeat in Leghorn by Chievo in a match watched by their most famous fan, Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

The octogenarian president is one of the few fans old enough to remember when the club last played in the top flight 55 years ago - the ageing statesman can even remember as a boy listening to a radio commentary of Italy's first World Cup win in 1934.

But he will have to wait a little longer for Livorno's first win back in the top flight as Reggina rained on their parade.

Livorno coach Franco Colomba, against his former club, had hoped for a win at the ground where he had two stints in charge.

Brazilian midfielder Mozart was orchestrating the Reggina attack but after eight minutes it was Gaetano Da Rosa who created the opener.

The defender played in Bonazzoli who sprung the offside trap in what looked a marginal decision and the forward went on to beat Livorno goalkeeper Marco Amelia with a right-footed shot.

Livorno switched their side around and altered their tactics after conceding that early goal.

And the move soon paid dividends as the visitors from Leghorn got back on terms.

It was a straightforward goal as Lucarelli planted a header into the net from a corner taken by Nicolas Andres Cordova.

Minutes later Lucarelli's brother Cristiano, a forward unlike his sibling who is a defender, could have repeated the trick but this time he headed over.

In the second half Reggina started well after Livorno had looked to be on top in the closing stages of the first period.

The home side's pressure paid off just after an hour had elapsed and it was Colucci who came up with the goal.

Amelia failed to hold on to a shot from Reggina's Japanese playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura and Colucci bundled home the rebound.

With a minute remaining Livorno almost got back on terms when a cheeky backheel by Igor Protti was saved by goalkeeper Nicola Pavarini.

However, as the game drifted into stoppage time Reggina could have snatched a third goal as Carlos Paredes burst through on goal but Amelia saved superbly.