Serie B Review - Week 22

Napoli 2-0 Cagliari
Napoli continue their fine home form after a dry spell lasting eight months at
the Stadio San Paolo and clamber to the edge of the relegation zone. It was an
even first half, but the home side took their chances and Davide Dionigi dived
onto a Rubens Pasino set-piece. Cagliari wanted a penalty after the break for
Francesco Baldini’s push on Fabrizio Cammarata, but the referee waved play on.
There was also controversy on Napoli’s second as a Cagliari player was down when
Jose Luis Vidigal finalised a counter-attack.
Scorers: Dionigi 45, Vidigal 86

Ascoli 3-2 Bari
Bari continue slipping down the standings with this entertaining defeat at
Ascoli. It took just six minutes to break the deadlock when Mario Bonfiglio
threaded through for Gaetano Fontana to tap into an empty net. The visitors
demanded a penalty for Massimiliano Tangorra’s handling offence, but the referee
judged it to be involuntary. The equaliser eventually arrived with Jonathan
Spinesi’s strong header. Denis Godeas rattled the crossbar, but Ascoli restored
their lead as Franco Brienza met a corner kick. When Rachid Neqrouz saw red it
proved the end for Bari and a stunning Brienza chip made it three. A late
Spinesi strike proved scant consolation.
Scorers: Fontana 6 (A), Spinesi 24, 81 (B), Brienza 49, 76 (A)

Genoa 2-0 Catania
Edy Reja made a triumphant debut on the Catania bench last week, but is forced
to suffer his first defeat at the hands of Genoa. It took just six minutes to
open the scoring with a disastrous own goal as Giovanni Martusciello
accidentally nodded a harmless free kick into his own net. The Sicilians fought
back with real vehemence, forcing goalkeeper Pierluigi Brivio into a desperate
save on Luis Oliveira’s backheel. However, it was Genoa who doubled their lead
when Adrian Mihalcea finished a Vincenzo D’Isanto move with the most delicate of
touches. Oliveira brought another good save out of Brivio with a dipping volley,
while Damiano Moscardi’s late drive shaved the far post.
Scorers: Martusciello og 6, Mihalcea 33
Livorno 1-1 Verona
A pair of headers sealed the result, but neither side is particularly on form.
Livorno have built their season on their strength at home, so it was quite a
surprise when Max Vieri rose to nod in on seven minutes. The lead did not last
long as Marco Negri scored an almost identical equaliser on Davide Saverino’s
free kick. Overall, Verona had the better of the first half and rattled the
crossbar with Marco Cassetti, while Igor Protti went close to a home winner in
the final minutes.
Scorers: Vieri 7 (V), Negri 16 (L)

Messina 0-0 Siena
Siena managed to grab a precious point despite playing the entire second half in
ten men. Messina are a strong side on home turf, but it was the visitors who had
the best early chances with Marco Storari saves on Andre Pinga and Stefano
Ghirardello. Before the break Siena hitman Simone Tiribocchi was sent off for
dissent, but Riccardo Zampagna failed to convert two good chances for Messina.
Sent off: Tiribocchi 45 (S)

Palermo 0-1 Ancona
Mattia Graffiedi’s diving header on a Marco Schenardi centre earned three
precious points in Sicily. It was only Palermo’s second home defeat of the
campaign and represented Ancona’s fifth consecutive victory. The Rosanero
perhaps deserved more due to their many first half chances, but failed to make
the most of them.
Scorer: Graffiedi 17

Ternana 4-0 Salernitana
Ternana earn their first win in six games, but things go from bad to worse for
Salernitana. The scoreline could have been more severe as the home side hit the
woodwork twice and had several more clear cut chances. Ezio Brevi turned in a
Davide Nicola free kick after just five minutes, then Tomas Guzman struck the
upright only for Massimo Borgobello to gather the ricochet. Borgobello completed
his brace on the hour mark by redirecting another Guzman effort and Houssine
Kharja’s powerful header sealed the scoreline. Salernitana’s one and only effort
saw Alessandro Zoppetti clip the crossbar in stoppage time.
Scorers: Brevi 5, Borgobello 27, 58, Kharja 90

Venezia 1-0 Triestina
A simply stunning last-gasp goal gave Venezia fans an unexpected victory and
sent Triestina tumbling to a third consecutive defeat. The game was already two
minutes into stoppage time when Maurizio Rossi somehow managed to drive into the
net from practically the by-line. The leaders had started well with an
Alessandro Parisi effort well saved and several Nicola Zanini moves. Venezia
took charge towards the end of the first half and Angelo Pagotto made a
difficult stop on Paulo Sergio Da Costa, but when Ruben Maldonado was tripped
Alessandro Manetti ballooned their penalty kick over the bar. Triestina fought
back with a desperate save on Dino Fava’s header, but deep into stoppage time
Rossi sealed the win.
Scorer: Rossi 92
Missed penalty: Manetti 63 (V)

Vicenza 3-0 Cosenza
Vicenza complete their extraordinary fightback from bottom of the table to the
leadership in just over three months. The result may be 3-0, but Cosenza had
held on valiantly until the final minutes. If anything, the visitors had the
best early chance with Fabio Alteri just unable to reach an Emanuele Brioschi
cross following Paolo Guastalvino’s error. The deciding moment arrived ten
minutes from time when Jeda’s looping header broke the deadlock. Cosenza tried
to fight back, but a Stefan Schwoch lob and Antonino Bernardini header sealed
their fate.
Scorers: Jeda 79, Schwoch 84, Bernardini 93