Serie B Review - Week 26

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Ascoli 0-0 Salernitana


Ascoli and Salernitana share the points in this tense encounter. Inacio Pia’
went closest to scoring for the home side, but despite having Davide Bombardini
sent off for dissent and Longo red carded late on, Salernitana held on for the
point.


Sent off: Bombardini 46 (S), Longo 79 (S)



Atalanta 0-1 Piacenza


Atalanta went unbeaten for the first 24 games in this Serie B season, but have
now suffered two defeats on the trot. Piacenza leap into the top four with this
very important victory and opened the scoring with Beghetto’s tap-in on 18
minutes. The visitors tested Guardalben with Pazzini, Montolivo and Marcolini,
while Gautieri’s late drive clipped the crossbar.


Scorers: Beghetto 18 (P)



Catania 0-0 Como


Como continue to improve their fortunes and may yet escape the drop. Luis
Oliveira thought he had broken the deadlock when he was brought down by Piccolo,
but his penalty was saved by Layeni. However, in the second half Como repeated
the trick as Carparelli’s spot-kick was palmed away by Squizzi.


Missed penalty: Oliveira 17 (Ca), Carparelli 61 (Co)



Livorno 1-1 Genoa


Livorno’s promotion hopes were further hit by this disappointing home result.
Danilevicius was brought down after nine minutes and allowed Igor Protti to
convert a penalty, but despite pouring forward Livorno were unable to extend
their lead. Genoa grabbed a lifeline on the half-hour mark with Caccia pouncing
on a poorly cleared free kick. Even after Ze Elias saw red late on, the Tuscans
could not break through for the winner.


Scorers: Protti pen 9 (L), Caccia 31 (G)

Sent off: Ze Elias 83 (G)



Napoli 1-0 Messina


Napoli earn a crucial victory to save Coach Gigi Simoni from the sack and
clamber out of the relegation zone. The winner was a fortunate goal, as
Zamboni’s shot from 30 metres took a decisive deflection to leave goalkeeper
Storari stranded. January signing Roberto Sosa went closest to an equaliser when
his header thumped the upright, while there were furious penalty appeals in the
closing stages.


Scorers: Zamboni 71 (N)



Palermo 1-1 Avellino


Francesco Guidolin is still looking for his first win on the Palermo bench after
they were held on home turf by Serie B’s bottom club. Di Donato, Jeda and Luca
Toni went close to opening the scoring early on, but just before the break
Toni’s trademark header slotted into the far corner. Toni saw another fine
volley saved by Cecere before Giovanni Stroppa scored a simply spectacular
equaliser. The veteran ex-Milan man spotted the goalkeeper off his line and
curled in from all of 35 metres.


Scorers: Toni 42 (P), Stroppa 70 (A)



Pescara 0-1 Cagliari


Cagliari end Pescara’s unbeaten home record with this precious victory that puts
them back in the promotion race. Gianfranco Zola proved instrumental with a
precise pass for goalscorer Esposito just before the break. It was one-way
traffic and Pescara’s hopes of a comeback were further dented by a late Pagani
red card.


Scorers: Esposito 38 (C)


Sent off: Pagani 86 (P)



Ternana 0-0 Albinoleffe


Ternana catch Atalanta at the top of the table, but they could have become the
sole leaders with what looked to be a relatively easy home game. However,
Albinoleffe earned a shock point and could have won it when Regonesi rattled the
crossbar. It became a tense encounter in the final minutes with red cards for
Grava and Poloni.

Sent off: Grava 87 (T), Poloni 88 (A)



Triestina 2-1 Fiorentina


Fiorentina boss Alberto Cavasin is under increasing pressure after Triestina
fought back to win this match. The Viola had taken the lead through January
signing Piangerelli’s header on a Di Livio cross, but the home side hit back at
the end of the first half with Rigoni’s fierce drive from the edge of the box.
The game was turned around completely at the dawn of the second half when
Manfredini brought down Godeas for a penalty. The former Udinese man’s
performance got even worse when he saw red and Triestina nearly made it three
with Leon rattling the crossbar.


Scorers: Piangerelli 16 (F), Rigoni 42 (T), Godeas pen 54 (T)


Sent off: Manfredini 70 (F)



Vicenza 3-1 Venezia


Vicenza earn a crucial victory for the relegation battle, but it is also a
morale-boosting local derby. Massimo Margiotta was the star with two goals,
while Venezia temporarily equalised through Parente’s penalty kick. The referee
also pointed to the spot at the other end of the field for Schwoch’s strike.


Scorers: Margiotta 22, 43 (Vi), Parente pen 34 (Ve), Schwoch 75 (Vi)



Treviso 0-2 Verona


Verona earn a shock victory against high-flying Treviso, but this match could
make its mark after home goalkeeper Gillet was shaken by a firecracker thrown
from the stands. It was a foggy night in Treviso, but Albanian striker Myrtaj
found his way to the goal after just ten minutes. Gillet was able to carry on
despite the incident just before half-time, and Verona sealed the points with a
strike by Brazilian Adailton.


Scorers: Myrtaj 10, Adailton 55

Torino-Bari
Monday evening kick-off.