Tuesday 20 SeptemberCrotone 0-3 Juventus
Juventus picked up their first Serie B win at the weekend and, despite missing the injured Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet, continued to climb out of their 17-point Calciopoli ditch with victory at Crotone.
The home side had the expected aggressive start, but couldn’t create any real chances and paid the price. Valeri Bojinov broke through after half an hour, spinning round his marker to turn in a Marcelo Zalayeta pass from six yards. Jean-Alain Boumsong has been criticised so far this season for costly errors in defence, but the former Newcastle United man scored a rare goal at the other end of the field, rising to nod in a Mauro Camoranesi corner kick. Crotone didn’t give in and Veron’s strike skimmed the crossbar before half-time.
Juve have repeatedly allowed opponents back into the game this season, but remained humble and worked hard to prevent any Crotone counter-attacks in the second period. Camoranesi went off after a knock to his ankle. Bojinov put the result beyond doubt when slotted home Federico Balzaretti’s pass, but it was a controversial goal as the Bulgarian was offside when his teammate received and came back into play to score.
Arezzo 0-0 Napoli
Both sides failed to get the answers they needed from this game. Napoli suffered their first defeat since February at the weekend and needed to prove they were just as effective away from home as at the San Paolo, while Arezzo were looking for their opening victory. Unfortunately, the game was preceded by crowd trouble caused by Napoli fans without tickets. Cristian Bucchi’s early penalty appeals for a clash with Mirko Conte were waved away, then Croce pounced on a Grava error to test the Napoli goalkeeper’s reflexes. Sam Dalla Bona and Bricca wasted good opportunities.
Edy Reja’s men were more lively after the break, as Bonomi rattled the bar, albeit after he had been flagged for offside, and Emanuele Calaiò had a goal disallowed for the same reason. Bondi skimmed the woodwork and Calaio fired just wide before ex-Napoli starlet Antonio Floro Flores had a shot charged down by Paolo Cannavaro. Roberto Sosa replaced Bucchi, but it was Dalla Bona who almost gave the Azzurri the lead, breaking through the defence and bringing a great save out of Bremec. The pace picked up considerably in the second half with Gennaro Iezzo keeping out a bouncing long-range Floro Flores strike, tipping Vigna’s effort over the bar and Di Donato shaving the upright.
Brescia 2-1 Treviso
Brescia left it very late indeed to turn this game around, but two goals in the final stages put them joint top of the standings with Lecce. Treviso had been close to their first win of the season with Fava’s early goal, but Jadid’s deflected free kick drew the Rondinelle level and deep into stoppages Hamsik converted a controversial penalty.
Lecce 2-0 Mantova
Zdenek Zeman’s Lecce leap to the top of the table with a prestigious victory over promotion rivals Mantova. Osvaldo was only kept out by the upright early on, but Guillermo Giacomazzi’s piledriver from the edge of the area gave the home side a deserved lead. The result was never really in doubt and Jaime Valdes had time for a cheeky lobbed penalty. It was saved by Pierluigi Brivio, but he could only parry it back into the path of the blushing Chilean.
Modena 2-0 Genoa
Modena have had a poor start to the season, but they shocked the Serie B leaders at the Stadio Braglia. Sforzini put the Canarini ahead with a splendid effort from the edge of the box and Genoa poured forward in the second half, Rossi’s missile well saved, but Alex Pinardi scored against the run of play with an angled drive. Rossoblu goalkeeper Rubinho was stretchered off unconscious after an accidental clash with Sforzini and, as all the substitutions had been completed, Giuseppe Sculli went between the posts for the final 12 minutes.
Pescara 0-1 Bari
Pescara cruelly fell to a third straight defeat at the Stadio Adriatico, as a last-gasp strike from Giorgio Di Vicino saw Bari steal the points. An even encounter seemed to be destined for a stalemate before Di Vicino’s header in the dying moments clinched the win for Rolando Maran’s side.
Piacenza 1-0 Bologna
The Stadio Garilli is fast becoming the home of the giant-killers, as last week Napoli fell and leaders Bologna followed suit in this local derby. Mourad Meghni brought a tough save out of Coppola and struck the woodwork, while Christian Amoroso wasted a golden opportunity. However, it was Piacenza who grabbed the winner when Francesco Antonioli misjudged a cross and allowed Nef to nod into an empty net.
Rimini 2-1 Frosinone
Frosinone scored their first Serie B goal, but fell victim to a second half comeback from a spirited 10-man Rimini side in an exciting encounter. Di Nardo opened the Canarini’s Cadetti account early in the second half, but despite the dismissal of Digao – Kaka’s younger brother – Rimini fought back spectacularly with a great shot on the turn from Davide Moscardelli and a winner from Brazilian hit man Jeda. With five minutes to go Frosinone’s Fabio De Venanzio also walked.
Triestina 1-2 Albinoleffe
Albinoleffe shocked Triestina and grabbed maximum points at the Stadio Nereo Rocco. The visitors had led through midfielder Marco Gori before summer signing Nicola Ferrari missed a chance to double the advantage with a twice-taken penalty before half time. Piovaccari’s header equalised after the break before Ferrari showed true guts to make amends from the penalty spot. Joelson also hit the woodwork for the visitors.
Wednesday 21 September
Vicenza 0-1 Cesena
Cesena leapt to the top of the table, but Vicenza are rock bottom with a third straight defeat. Papa Waigo ran down the right flank to set up Pelle’s winning goal just after the break with the simplest of tap-ins. Schwoch and Salvetti had chances to add to the tally, while the Biancorossi’s potential equaliser rattled the crossbar from Padoin’s free kick.
Spezia 1-0 Verona
Spezia have their first Serie B win, but had to dig deep to resist long periods of Verona pressure in a hot-blooded affair. The visitors arrived on a high after an encouraging start to the campaign, but looked disjointed in the first period and Spezia took full advantage when Massimiliano Varricchio broke through a static defence. Verona dominated the game after the interval, but their closest effort saw Vincenzo Italiano’s goal-bound shot deflected wide off Spezia right-back Giovanni Rossi. Hopes of an equaliser faded with the dismissal of Iunco for a rash second bookable offence and the fans at the Alberto Picco were left to celebrate an historic three points. There was some controversy as referee Maurizio Ciampi appeared to show Spezia man Rossi two yellow cards without brandishing a red during the second half.
Source: C4 Football Italia
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