Catania 2-2 Siena
Maxi Lopez 11 (C), Maccarone 49 (S), Biagianti 50 (C), Vergassola 69 (S)
Stadio Massimino
Siena earned a surprise 2-2 draw at the Massimino in which Maxi Lopez saw his penalty saved.
This was a relegation dogfight, but one that looked very unbalanced. The Elefantini were practically safe after beating Palermo and holding Milan in recent weeks, while Siena’s chances of avoiding the drop were very slim.
Giuseppe Mascara sat out a ban with Jorge Martinez, Cristian Llama, Augustyn and Gianvito Plasmati. Siena made the trip without Francesco Parravicini, Michele Fini and the suspended Pratali.
Catania took the lead just 11 minutes in. Marco Biagianti won back the ball in midfield and Maxi Lopez shrugged off his marker to smash into the near top corner with his right foot.
Siena could’ve equalised on 20 minutes, but Vergassola’s header cracked against the crossbar from a corner.
Taka Morimoto was correctly booked for simulation in the box, but Siena hit the woodwork for the second time with a splendid Aleandro Rosi free kick that dipped on to the bar.
An Alvarez bullet of a free kick was pushed off the line with some difficulty.
Siena equalised at the dawn of the second half, as Massimo Maccarone was given far too much room to steer a free header in from eight yards.
However, it lasted all of 30 seconds before Siena’s defence was torn to shreds. Biagianti combined with Maxi Lopez on the edge of the box to burst in and place an angled drive across Curci.
Abdel Ghezzal mistimed his tackle on Morimoto just inside the area for a penalty. However, the Maxi Lopez spot-kick was saved and Ciro Capuano’s follow-up cleared off the line, as Siena held on.
The visitors managed to claw their way back to 2-2, as a corner came out to the D for Simone Vergassola’s shot on the bounce, which took a decisive deflection off Silvestre.
Siena almost won it at the death, but Maccarone’s half-volley was deflected out for a corner. Mariano Andujar also flew to fingertip a Del Grosso screamer over the bar.
Catania: Andujar; Alvarez, Terlizzi, Silvestre, Capuano, Carboni, Izco (Sciacca 81), Ricchiuti (Delvecchio 63), Biagianti, Morimoto (Ledesma 93), Maxi Lopez
Siena: Curci; Rosi (Reginaldo 51), Malagò, Cribari, Del Grosso, Vergassola, Ekdal (Jarolim 78), Tziolis, Maccarrone, Ghezzal, Larrondo (Calaio’ 51)
Ref: Gava
Missed penalty: Maxi Lopez 60 (C)