Moscardelli Reignites The Flight In The Flying Donkeys


If someone had to mention Davide Moscardelli a year ago to any ordinary calcio fan, it would be acceptable to, if not the norm, to not know who he is. However, over the past week Moscardelli has become a household name across the board of calcio fans.

The Belgium born forward has lead his current side, Chievo, to churn out the most unexpected, yet most vital of results for not only the boys in the yellow, but for the big name teams such as Roma, Milan and Inter who have struggled to find form at late.

Though, despite his two match-winning goals in the past week, the story of the 31-year-old stretches further back up until the start of his career that has been met with highs and lows, as well as some entertaining controversy.

Moscardelli started his playing career in one of Italy’s amateur clubs, Maccarese, back in 1997 before moving to Guidonia Montecelio in 2001. It was here that he started to open the eyes of the Italian scouts when he scored 20 times in 27 league games.

Despite seeing his team suffer a 10 point deduction due to his playing in a match when he was meant to be suspended; the deduction was of no significance as he still managed to lead the side to promotion.  

His effectiveness in goal scoring, saw Chievo and Sangiovannese sign him on a co-onwership deal in which he mustered up an average of a goal per every second game played: a feat that saw him brought to Serie B in 2003.

It was during his time in Serie B where was dubbed the nickname Battigol as he was often compared to the famous Gabriel Batistuta.

Spells at Triestina, Rimini, Cesena, and Piacenza eventually saw him return to the ancient city of Verona to play for Chievo.

His second spell in the City saw a love affair like Romeo and Juliette begin when he scored on his debut to ensure a 2-1 win over Catania on August 29 2010. In the next match, he scored a goal in an away match that beat Genoa 3–1, a team he would soon become used to scoring against.

In a matter of a week the ‘new Battigol’ has seen himself become a super sub and a player that has put an end to teams currently on top of the table.

On Wednesday 21 September 2011 Moscardelli came on in the 59th minute, in place of Thereau, to face an inform Napoli, who were fresh off a 3-1 thrashing of the defending champions Milan. With the scores tied with no goals the odds were in favour of the Azzurri to net the winner, but it was wasn’t to be a the Belgian latched on to some poor defending to score the only goal of the game.

The win saw the Flying Donkey’s put an end to Napoli’s 100% undefeated record  as other teams leapfrogged the Partenopei above the table;  sending the Ultra’s and the city into utter elation.

The happiness wasn’t short lived as the 6 ft 1 star struck twice within five days as he scored yet another match winner in the 93rd minute. His latest victims? Genoa!

The Grifoni were joint leader’s coming into the weekend, but the striker continued to haunt the Marassi side as not only did he knock them off the top of the table, he ended Walter Mazzarri’s short lived reign in first place- the first time the tactician had reached such heights in 12 years- as well as ending Genoa’s unbeaten run since May.

If that wasn’t enough salt rubbed into the wounds, Moscardelli’s last minute strike was the fifth time he had netted against Genoa, a side who is his favourite target.

After netting two back-to-back match winners as well as knocking the teams off the top of the table, Cesena (the Bentegodi outfit’s next opponent) are dreading the arrival of the big Belgian.

Moscardelli has certainly made himself a household name in recent weeks and has undoubtedly installed a new air of confidence in the ‘Ceo’, leaving defenses worried across the Italian peninsula.

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