Serie B Review - Week 42

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Ascoli 1-0 Verona


Verona are sliding towards Serie C with another setback at mid-table Ascoli. It
didn’t take long for the home side to break the deadlock, as Colacone took full
advantage of a defensive error. The Ascoli man could have made it two before the
break, but one shot managed to strike both uprights.


Scorers: Colacone 3 (A)



Atalanta 0-0 Livorno


This was a promotion showdown, but at the end of the 90 minutes only one point
continues to separate them.The home side had the best chances with three fine
saves on Luca Saudati, while Igor Protti and Pazzini also went close, but the
match ended goalless.



Avellino 2-1 Genoa


Avellino clamber off the foot of the table for the first time with this shock
win over Genoa. Milito had given the visitors the lead by meeting Villa's cross,
but after the break Ferraresi's volley and a late Sardo header turned it all
around.

Scorers: Milito 38 (G), Ferraresi 61 (A), Sardo 87 (A)



Cagliari 3-1 Triestina

Cagliari temporarily take leadership of Serie B and a massive step towards
promotion after fighting back against a fellow contender. Triestina still have a
slender hope of capturing that play-off place and took the lead when Eder Baù
took advantage of a defensive howler. However, after the break it was a
different story and Abeijon’s header drew level while Gianfranco Zola set up
strikes for Lopez and Suazo.

Scorers: Bau 13 (T), Abeijon 54 (C), Lopez 74 (C), Suazo 84 (C)




Como 1-3 Bari


Como have resigned themselves to the drop and put up little resistance against a
Bari side that still has hope. De Rosa’s header put the visitors in the lead and
it was soon followed by a similar goal from Brioschi. Como started to have some
reaction in the second half with Carparelli’s trademark free kick, but a late
Valdes effort cut down any chance of a comeback.


Scorers: De Rosa 15 (B), Brioschi 35 (B), Carparelli 51 (C), Valdes 86 (B)



Messina 4-1 Albinoleffe


Messina are charging towards Serie A and show no signs of slowing down as they
obliterated Albinoleffe. Within six minutes Sosa was brought down for a penalty
converted by Sullo, then the Argentine got on the scoresheet himself with a
precise lob. Sullo doubled his tally soon after and Di Napoli’s effort went in
off the upright to ensure the first half drubbing was complete. Regonesi finally
got a consolation goal in the closing stages.


Scorers: Sullo pen 6, 38 (M), Sosa 30 (M), Di Napoli 41 (M), Regonesi 88 (A)



Napoli 2-3 Catania


Both these teams are now safe from the drop and too far away from the promotion
places, so there was little motivation on either side. Nonetheless, Catania were
shaken out of their complacency by the club throwing them into a pre-match
training camp following recent defeats and it seemed to do the trick with a
shock win at the San Paolo. Terra took advantage of a defensive error before
Emanuele Berrettoni pounced twice with an angled drive and solo effort. Perovic
got one back for the home side and Max Vieri gave the home supporters something
to cheer about in the final stages, but he failed to complete an incredible
comeback when his late penalty was saved.


Scorers: Terra 27 (C), Berrettoni 35, 50 (C), Perovic 52 (N), Vieri 82 (N)

Missed penalty: Vieri 84 (N)



Palermo 3-0 Vicenza


Palermo maintain the leadership of Serie B with this crucial win against Coach
Francesco Guidolin’s former club. Without Emanuele Filippini and Eugenio Corini,
it still took them just 10 minutes to open the scoring with Gasbarroni’s
stunning free kick into the top corner. Luca Toni is increasingly likely to end
the campaign as Capocannoniere with a fine volley, but the striker was booked
and will miss next week’s promotion clash with local rivals Messina. Di Donato
struck on the hour mark to ensure there was no way back for Vicenza.


Scorers: Gasbarroni 10 (P), Toni 25 (P), Di Donato 65 (P)



Pescara 1-2 Treviso


Pescara desperately needed a win to avoid sliding down into Serie C, but it was
Treviso who took the lead within five minutes thanks to Ganci’s well-taken
volley into the top corner. Gillet kept out Palladini’s effort just before the
break, but D’Agostino ensured the points were Treviso’s. Russo saw red in the
closing stages, but it didn’t stop Pescara getting one back through their top
scorer Calaio.


Scorers: Ganci 5 (T), D’Agostino 75 (T), Calaio 92 (P)


Sent off: Russo 77 (P)



Ternana 1-2 Salernitana


Ternana are now out of the promotion race, while Salernitana found the threat of
relegation pushed them on to a shock victory. The deadlock was broken in
controversial fashion, as after nine minutes Zampagna fell under the slightest
contact with Perna and Kharja converted the resulting penalty for Ternana. Di
Vicino went close to an equaliser with one of his trademark free kicks, while
Brevi rattled the crossbar for the home side. Terni’s red card at the dawn of
the second half left Ternana in ten men, and Salernitana took full advantage by
drawing level soon after with Tulli's header. The sending off proved to be a
turning point, as Salernitana poured forward and eventually grabbed a winner
through brace hero Tulli's powerful drive.


Scorers: Kharja pen 9 (T), Tulli 62, 86 (S)


Sent off: Terni 53 (T)



Torino 4-2 Piacenza


Piacenza are riding high following their win over fellow promotion hopefuls
Ternana, but found a Torino side up for battle in this six-goal thriller. The
majority of Granata fans sat outside the Stadium in protest at their recent
performances, but Toro took a surprise lead after just ten minutes through
Johann Walem’s free kick and rattled the crossbar with Pinga’s effort. However,
Piacenza turned it all around through Beghetto’s fierce drive and a
controversial second-half penalty for a handling offence. It was a very eventful
match and Toro completed an extraordinary comeback through Mezzano's header and
a Ferrante penalty, an incident that also saw Cristante red-carded for a last
man foul. The Granata made sure of the morale-boosting victory with Fernandez in
the final minutes after Colombo had seen red for dissent.


Scorers: Walem 10 (T), Beghetto 40, pen 51 (P), Mezzano 64 (T), Ferrante pen 77
(T), Fernandez 92 (T)


Sent off: Cristante 76 (P), Colombo 83 (P)



Venezia 0-2 Fiorentina


Fiorentina’s Serie A hopes are still alive following this hard-fought away win
that broke a goal drought after over 200 minutes of football. Riganò saw an
early goal controversially disallowed before Vryzas sprung the offside trap and
placed an angled drive into the far corner of the net. A fine save prevented
Biancolino drawing Venezia level and Rigano’s late header ensured the points
were safe.


Scorers: Vryzas 39 (F), Riganò 81 (F)