Japan midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata put a difficult week behind him to score his fourth league goal of the season as Parma handed rival Chievo Verona a 4-0 thrashing in the Italian first division on Sunday.
Hidetoshi Nakata of Parma dribbles the ball in Sunday's Italian Serie A match against Chievo in Verona, Italy. Nakata scored a goal as Parma won 4-0.
Nakata, who had criticized team tactics and urged coach Claudio Prandelli to use him in a central role on his Web site midweek, returned to the starting line-up after being dropped last week but remained on the right-side of midfield.
Romanian international Adrian Mutu fired the visitors in front from a free-kick early on and Chievo's chances of getting back into the match disappeared when Salvatore Lanna was sent off for a tackle from behind on Nakata in the 54th minute.
Nakata doubled the lead with a neat finish just before the hour and the visitors put the game out of reach in the 65th minute when Sabri Lamouchi scored a third. Seconds after coming on, substitute Alberto Gilardino struck a fourth in injury-time.
Parma remains in sixth but closed the gap on fifth-placed Chievo to two points.
