Serie B Review - Week 25
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albinoleffe 1-0 Treviso
Albinoleffe earns an important victory for the relegation battle. The winning
goal came after just two minutes of the match when Mario Morfeo pounced on a
loose ball. Both sides were left in ten men for the second half with red cards
for Davide Possanzini and Pianu, while Varricchio went closest to an equaliser
for the visitors.
Scorers: Morfeo 2 (A)
Sent off: Pianu 40 (T), Possanzini 42 (A)
Avellino 1-0 Triestina
Avellino earn effectively their first win of the season, as the other mark in
the ‘wins’ column was awarded after crowd trouble in their clash with Napoli.
Former Milan striker Kutuzov bagged the crucial strike by turning in Nocerino’s
cross.
Scorers: Kutuzov 71 (A)
Bari 2-1 Vicenza
Bari clamber up the standings with a victory against their fellow relegation
battlers. Massimo Margiotta put Vicenza ahead after just ten minutes by taking
advantage of a defensive error, but Fissore’s foul on Mora allowed Nicolas
Cordova to equalise from the spot. The Chilean turned the game around after the
break with a delightful lob.
Scorers: Margiotta 10 (V), Cordova pen 18, 48 (B)
Cagliari 2-1 Catania
Cagliari push past Catania with a convincing display, although all the goals
came in the final minutes. Gianfranco Zola went close with a couple of trademark
free kicks, while Sedivec skimmed the woodwork with an angled drive. The
deadlock was eventually broken on 72 minutes when David Suazo set up teammate
Mauro Esposito. Moments later the striker returned the favour and allowed the
Honduras international to net. Del Vecchio’s late header was mere consolation as
Cagliari catch Livorno in sixth place.
Scorers: Esposito 72 (Cag), Suazo 80 (Cag), Del Vecchio 82 (Cat)
Como 2-0 Napoli
Como leapfrog past Napoli in the standings and pile more pressure on Gigi
Simoni’s side. It was new signing Carparelli who once again made the difference,
as he opened the scoring with a stunning drive from distance. Montezine wasted a
good opportunity to draw level for Napoli and Max Vieri’s goal was disallowed
for offside, but Davide Dionigi went even closer when his header thumped the
crossbar. However, Carparelli popped up to nod in ten minutes from time and seal
the scoreline.
COMO: Layeni, Tarozzi, Lamacchi, Piccolo, Femiano (dal 41'st Rossini),
Belinghieri, Colasante, Caremi, Ferrigno (dal 31'st Greco), Ghirardello (dal
15'st Chianese), Carparelli. All: Fascetti
NAPOLI: Manitta, Portanova, Carrera, Zamboni, Tosto, Martinez (dal 20'st
Montezine), Perovic, Olive (dal 32'st Vidigal), Bernini, Dionigi, Sesa (dal
20'st Vieri). All: Simoni
MARCATORI: 16' st Carparelli, 36'st Carparelli
AMMONITI: Sesa (N), Dionigi (N), Bernini (N)
ARBITRO: Rizzoli di Bologna. Assistenti: Conzutti-Carretta. Quarto uomo:
Iannello
NOTE: Recupero 1'- 5'
Scorers: Carparelli 60, 80 (C)
Fiorentina 1-1 Pescara
Fiorentina were disappointed with this result against little Pescara, although
they were fortunate to take the lead. Rigano pounced on Fantini’s assist, but
the last touch to take it past the goalkeeper was clearly from Colonnello.
Pescara eventually drew level in the second half when new signing Amerini
drilled past Sebastian Cejas from close range.
Scorers: Colonnello og 11 (F), Amerini 70 (P)
Genoa 1-1 Ascoli
Genoa can celebrate the arrival of new signing Gabriel Milito with a goal, but
are once again held on home turf. Ascoli took the lead within the opening three
minutes when Inacio Pia blasted in an unstoppable effort. The Rossoblu fought
back and deservedly drew level with Argentine hitman Milito’s right-foot strike
on his Serie B debut. Ascoli held on in the final minutes despite Speranza’s red
card for dissent.
Scorers: Pia 3 (A), Milito 38 (G)
Sent off: Speranza 79 (A)
Salernitana 2-0 Torino
Torino’s crisis is at boiling point as they continue to slide further away from
the promotion places, but Salernitana supporters are now dreaming of the top
flight after leapfrogging past the Granata. The breakthrough came in the final
minutes, as Mandelli brought down Bogdani and allowed Bombardini to convert the
penalty. Soon after Giorgio Di Vicino sealed the points with a stunning strike,
curling in from the edge of the box.
Scorers: Bombardini pen 82 (S), Di Vicino 87 (S)
Venezia 1-0 Atalanta
Atalanta lose their unbeaten record after 24 games and surprisingly that run
came to an end in the Laguna. Both sides had early chances with Sarr’s goal
disallowed for a push, while Brellier somehow failed to convert his scoring
opportunity. It needed something special to break through and Paolo Poggi’s goal
was certainly memorable. The veteran striker curled in a left foot drive from
almost 30 metres. Bernardini struck the woodwork late on, but Atalanta couldn’t
get back into the game.
Scorers: Poggi 63 (V)
Verona 3-2 Ternana
Ternana had the opportunity to go top of the table following Atalanta’s slip,
but throw away that chance by losing at relegation strugglers Verona. The home
side dominated the first half and netted through Salvetti’s close range strike,
a Dossena drive and Myrtaj penalty. Ternana fought back in the second period and
cut the gap within the space of three minutes, first Brevi nodding in, then
Corrent bursting through the centre. It wasn’t enough and the points go to
Verona.
Scorers: Salvetti 11 (V), Dossena 32 (V), Myrtaj pen 44 (V), Brevi 53 (T),
Corrent 55 (T)
Sent off: Brevi 85 (T)
Piacenza 2-2 Palermo
Francesco Guidolin’s debut as Palermo boss has ended in a 2-2 draw at Piacenza.
The former Bologna tactician was hired last week after the shock decision to
dismiss Silvio Baldini – despite the Sicilian outfit being just four points
behind leaders Atalanta.
The away side nearly got off to a wonderful start when Jeda struck the bar. Yet
it was Piacenza who took the lead in the 42nd minute thanks to a close range
effort from Lucenti. Luca Toni drew the sides level soon after half-time before
a stunning Nastase free-kick put Palermo ahead. But Piacenza grabbed a point
thanks to a late Beghetto header.
Scorers: Lucenti (Pi) 42, Toni (Pa) 49, Nastase (Pa) 80; Beghetto (Pi) 89
Sent off: A Filippini (Pa) 80
Messina 2–1 Livorno
Messina have moved into fourth place after they beat fellow promotion hopefuls
Livorno in the Friday night game. The home side came from behind to collect a
2-1 victory in a match that also saw Livorno see two of their players dismissed.
Livorno took the lead in the 49th minute with Tomas Danilevicius but they kept
their advantage for just 180 seconds. That after Luigi Lavecchia fired home to
level. Chiellini was then dismissed for two yellows which put Messina in pole.
They got their winner in the 87th minute when Carmine Coppola blasted a shot
into the back of the net from the edge of the box. Ruotolo was then dismissed in
injury time after striking Zaniolo.
Scorers: Danilevicius (L) 49, Lavecchia (M) 52, Coppola (M) 87
Sent off: Chiellini (L) 63, Ruotolo (L) 90