Siena earns draw at Catania on return

Siena earns draw at Catania on return

Published Sep. 11, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

Siena claimed a creditable 0-0 draw at Catania on Sunday afternoon on their return to Serie A.

Catania, who are coached by Vincenzo Montella, lost just four times at the Stadio Angelo Massimino last term so the top-flight new boys will see this as a point won.

It was the hosts who made all the early running, as Davide Lanzafame turned and shot inside the Siena box but he sent his effort high and wide.

After 12 minutes Marco Biagianti played in Maxi Lopez from the edge of the box, but the Argentina striker, who turned down an offer to join Fiorentina last month, shot wide.

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Catania suffered a scare after 20 minutes when their goalkeeper Mariano Andujar was unable to deal with Alessandro Gazzi's effort from distance, but Giuseppe Bellusci was on hand to block the ball on the line.

Home midfielder Adrian Ricchiuti tried an ambitious effort from fully 35 yards, but it went over the bar.

As the game neared half-time the sides traded strikes, with first Alejandro Gomez firing wide for Catania, then Pablo Gonzalez presenting Andujar with a comfortable save after he was played in by Emanuele Calaio.

Gomez should have done better three minutes into the second half when he headed an excellent Maxi cross wide from close range.

Two minutes later Ricchiuti's effort was deflected wide - though dangerously close to his own goal - by Luca Rossettini.

Andrea Catellani fired over, then set up Maxi who was similarly wayward as the game entered the final 10 minutes.

And Catania continued to press to the final whistle, with Francesco Lodi bringing a save out of Siena goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic in stoppage time with a shot from the right channel.

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