PARMA, Italy – Japan midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata capped an impressive display by scoring his third goal of the season as Parma beat Udinese 3-2 in an ill-tempered game in the Italian first division on Sunday.
Hidetoshi Nakata of Parma dribbles the ball during the Serie A clash against Udinese. Nakata scored a goal as Parma won 3-2.
Brazilian striker Adriano got the home side off to a flying start when he opened the scoring in the 12th minute but both sides had a man sent off before the break.
Simone Barone doubled the lead in the 52nd minute although David Marcelo Pizarro pulled one back for the visitors four minutes later.
After playing a one-two with Romanian striker Adrian Mutu, Nakata restored the two-goal advantage in the 84th minute with a well-taken strike.
Marek Jankulovski bagged a consolation goal in injury time but Parma held on for the victory to move up to sixth in the table on 30 points, 12 behind leader AC Milan.
Meanwhile, Shunsuke Nakamura, playing in a defensive role on the left side of midfield, started the move with a long pass inside his own half for David Di Michele’s first-minute strike in Reggina’s 3-1 victory over Perugia.
Francesco Cozza and Emiliano Bonazzoli also weighed in with goals as Reggina registered a third straight win to climb out of the relegation zone into 14th.
“I don’t mind where I play as long as I can help the team score goals,” said Nakamura.
Elsewhere, Naohiro Takahara got off to a good start in his home debut as Hamburg SV edged past Werder Bremen 1-0, with a 56th-minute strike by Sergej Barberez ensuring all three points for Hamburg.
Takahara proved a handful for the Bremen defense but missed a chance to open his Bundesliga account when he just failed to get on the end of a Barberez cross 10 minutes from time.
“I think I’ve begun to fit in with the team and now I just need to start scoring. I don’t think it will be too long before I get a goal if I keep playing like this,” said Takahara.
In the Dutch first division, Feyenoord returned after a month’s break with a 4-2 win over Twente Enschede. Shinji Ono played the full 90 minutes but was not involved in any of the goals.
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