Motherwell 1, Chievo 1
| Match Date: Tuesday, May 7 2002 |
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| Competition: Friendly | |
| Attendance: 4,091 | |
| Motherwell Team (4-4-2): |
Woods, Ramsay, Deloumeaux, Corrigan, Hammell, McFadden, Adams, Lasley,
Pearson, Elliott, Lehmann.
Subs: Dubourdeau, Kinniburgh, McDonald, Fagan, Wright.
Motherwell scorer: McFadden (87).
Yellow Cards:
WELL WORTH THE WAIT
Motherwell 1 Chievo Verona 1
A GOAL FROM JAMES MCFADDEN With just three minutes left gave Motherwell a deserved draw in this entertaining friendly against top Serie A outfit Chievo. Fielding a relatively youthful line-up after the recent traumatic events Motherwell served up some superb stuff and matched their Italian opponents to the full.
Chievo, who qualified for the UEFA Cup at the weekend in their first season in the Italian top-flight, began brightest with Keith Lasley having to be alert to cut out the pass from Beghetto into Lanna's path. Seconds later it was Dirk Lehmann back helping out to stop Lanna's chip reaching Marazinna. Neat play from Beghetto then gave Lanna a chance to find Esposito though again good defending from Ramsay stopped the danger. A pull by Elliott on Francheschini conceded a free kick some 30 yards out and although well struck by Barone it was equally well held by Woods in goals. A lay-off from Lanna into the path of Francheschini looked promising for the visitors but the final effort was way wide. Motherwell then put together a good move of their own with Lehmann's flick cleared by a spectacular Ambrosio clearance as McFadden looked set to pounce. Pearson was then brought crashing to the ground by Perrotta and from the free kick Adams found Pearson and his header drifted just inches wide. A corner conceded rather unnecessarily by Lanna was quickly followed by another. This time Elliott looked to have been held by Perrotta but Referee Dallas thought otherwise, with Hammel seeing his drive deflected over for another corner which Ambrosio gathered. Chievo were awarded a free kick 25 yards out when Lasley sent Perrotta sprawling, though Eriberto's take was well wide. Fussy refereeing by Dallas then stopped a clear-cut chance for Motherwell when Lehman raced clear only for the Referee to pull things back after a foul. Play swung upfield with Hammel conceding the corner. Curiously numbered 94, D'anna, had a free header and sent it over. A loose ball from Corrigan was then pounced upon by Cossato but captain Deloumeaux made a superb interception to clear. Elliott looked to sprint away but he was cynically brought down by Perrotta. Pumped in by Hammel the header from Lehmann was deflected wide of the target. Another nasty tackle, this time from Moro, saw McFadden crash to the ground, with the Italian kicking the ball away. Dallas ignored the dissent seeming content to award the free kick. Adams laid-off for Hammel but his shot was gathered by Ambrosio. Adams then was adjudged to have fouled Beghetto though the shot from D'Anna was well wide of goal. There was a nasty moment when several players were involved in a touchline incident after Adams had clattered into Moro. The upshot was both Adams and Hammel were booked though several others could well have joined them in the book from both sides. After things had calmed down somewhat Lorenzi had his header saved easily by Woods. The Motherwell keeper didn't look too clever a moment or two later when he missed a cross though fortunately Beghetto failed to keep the bal in play. The niggly tackles from Chievo continued with Elliott next to suffer, and shortly afterwards Barone was booked for at rip on Adams. Moro should have joined him but escaped after being very late on Lehmann. Just before the break McFadden found Hammel out wide and his cross was met by Lehmann who prodded the ball towards goal only for Moro to clear on the line and keep the scoreline blank.
Half-Time Motherwell 0 Chievo Verona 0
Motherwell made a change in goal with Dubourdeau replacing Woods. As with the first half the visitors made a bright start with Lasley forced to concede the free kick after sub Corradi had turned him near the by-line. Eriberto found Corradi whose header went over. What looked like a fair challenge by Elliott on Corradi was deemed otherwise by Dallas and Chievo had another dangerous free kick though this time it was wasted. Dubordeau then raced from his goal as Francheschini sprinted towards a hopeful ball through from midfield. Cool work in defence from Ramsay then stopped the danger as a through ball from Corradi almost found Barone. Referee Dallas then missed two blatant fouls, firstly Adams was sent flying on the stand side after persistent fouling by Esposito before Elliott, on a mazy run, almost made it to the box before a cynical kick from Legrottaglie knocked him off his stride with play continuing. Motherwell then close from a free kick awarded when Lorenzi fouled McFadden. Hammel met the lay-off from Lasley and sent his shot only a foot or so over the bar;. However, it was Chievo who made the breakthrough on the hour mark. From the centre by Lanna a powerful header saw Perrotta give Dubordeau no chance. Chievo then forced two successive corners before a great opportunity should have seen Motherwell draw level. A terrific flick from Lehmann presented Elliott with a chance in front of goal but he somehow failed to connect and the chance was gone. McFadden was then again fouled by Lorenzi who was merely warned by Dallas. Motherwell then made a change, Lasley replaced by Shaun Fagan. Neat play from Cheivo almost produced a second. Eriberto's neat back-flick finding Legrottaglie and his deep cross was knocked behind by Ramsay. Esposito met the corner but Dubordeau held well. Dubordeau then had to be alert to hold a snap shot from Eriberto. Another case of poor refereeing from Dallas came when, despite a foul by Esposito on Ramsay, the ball ran onto Elliott who burst clear of the defence. Dallas called play back and the free-kick from Hammel was coolly dealt with by Legrottaglie who headed into the hands of Abrosio. The tall Italian defender Legrottaglie was then beaten by Elliott but his shot went wide. A sliced clearance by Lornezi almost found Lehmann only for D'Angelo to clear. Adams was then replaced by McDonald. Just on, McDonald showed some great skill to win back possession on the touchline before a crunching tackle from Esposito won the ball for Chievo. The Italians made another change, Perrotta replaced by Grillon. James McFadden continued to press for Motherwell and his lay-off was driven over by Ramsay. After Elliott had been replaced by Clarkson a superbly-timed tackle from D'Angelo stopped Lehmann who had raced clear towards the box. Dubordeau then sliced a clearance though Ramsay was on hand to clear. A further change by Motherwell saw probable man-of-the-match Corrigan replaced by Kinniburgh. A minute later Motherwell deservedly drew level. Pearson's persistence out wide saw him burst into the box and from the by-line the cut back was tucked away by McFadden. A run by Eriberto looked threatening but his cut back was sent way over by Corradi. A final change for Chievo saw Esposito replaced by Cleiton but that was the final action on an entertaining night.
Full Time Motherwell 1 Chievo Verona 1
Match Report by Ricky Mullen