Serie B Wk 16: Review

Friday 15 December
Juventus P-P Cesena
This match was postponed as a mark of respect for two Juventus youth team players – Riccardo Neri and Alessio Ferramosca – who died in a tragic accident at the Vinovo training ground earlier in the day. The Lega Calcio have confirmed it will be played on January 16, 2007. Match Report >>>

Crotone 2-2 Pescara
Pescara picked up a point on assistant manager Vivarini’s debut, awaiting a permanent replacement for the sacked Aldo Ammazzalorso. The game sprung to life in the second half, especially as Crotone lost both Palmieri and Petrilli to injury in the opening stages. The visitors took the lead when Olivieri nodded in a free kick, but substitute Nanni equalised with his first touch of the ball, taking advantage of a lucky ricochet off Dante Lopez. De Falco restored Pescara’s advantage five minutes later with a fierce drive, but Cariello secured a share of the spoils for Crotone.

Saturday 16 December
Albinoleffe 3-1 Treviso
Albinoleffe’s miracle start to the campaign continues after easing to victory over struggling Treviso. Both sides took a long time to get into the game and a dire first half gave little indication of the excitement to follow. Leffe opened the scoring on 53 minutes when Cellini was felled in the area by Giuliatto and got up to convert the spot-kick. However, it was all square 15 minutes later when substitute Acquafresca scored with a superb header. Stung back into action, the home side regained the initiative almost immediately through a powerful Cristiano strike. Treviso poured men forward in the hope of grabbing a point, but instead were caught on the break deep into stoppage time and Bonazzi slotted his third goal of the season.

Brescia 1-1 Spezia
Frustration continues to mount at the Stadio Rigamonti as Brescia were held by Spezia. The Rondinelle got off to a dream start when Possanzini completed a quick one-two and fired past Santoni from the edge of the area after just two minutes and continued to dominate throughout the first period. For all their domination, the home side were unable to create any better chances than Hamsik’s shot which sailed a fraction wide. Spezia Coach Antonio Soda changed his tactics and the Aquilotti came back into the game after the break with first half substitute Bau looking especially dangerous. Guidetti came very close to levelling the game after 68 minutes and it proved to be a portent as the experienced marksman fired a left-footed strike through a forest of legs to equalise with ten minutes remaining.

Genoa 3-2 Frosinone
This match was certainly entertaining between one of the favourites for promotion and a Frosinone side that is excelling in its first ever Serie B campaign. Genoa got off to a flying start, as within the opening minute Tavares had sprung the offside trap to beat Zappino at the second attempt. Adailton had two efforts saved before Criscito’s glancing header from a corner doubled their lead, but Lodi got Frosinone back into it with a trademark left-foot screamer from distance. Tavares fell over goalkeeper Zappino for a debatable penalty that Greco converted, although Margiotta kept the minnows in it with his solo effort. Zappino kept the scoreline down with a splendid parry on Criscito’s header, Adailton’s deflected strike and a last-minute Juric missile.

Lecce 1-3 Bari
Zdenek Zeman is hanging by a thread after this crushing defeat in the local derby. Osvaldo went close for Lecce early on, but it was Carrus who gave Bari the lead with a drive from distance that left Benussi red-faced. Osvaldo was the only real threat from the home side, his chip off target, and Ganci doubled the tally with a fine free kick into top right-hand corner. Although Diamoutene converted a penalty for Milani’s foul on Valdes, there was only one team in it and Santoruvo’s angled drive sealed the scoreline. This match kicked off 35 minutes late due to crowd trouble outside the Stadio Via del Mare.

Modena 1-1 Vicenza
Vicenza extended their unbeaten run to five games with a gutsy draw against Modena at the Stadio Braglia. After a quiet opening 15 minutes, the first chance fell to the home side but Sforzini was unable to take advantage of a pinpoint Colacone cross. However, it was the Berici who took control of the game before half-time. A Raimondi free-kick flew just over the bar before Fissore hit the post on the half hour mark. Just four minutes later Fissore did get his name on the scoresheet when he finished from a Helguera cross. Modena came out for the second half looking more determined and should’ve been level after just a minute. A Gilioli strike was stopped by Zancope’ and Antonazzo somehow failed to turn the rebound home. It was Gilioli who did manage to level the game after an hour when he beat Zancope’ with an opportunist angled strike. Viskovic was dismissed late on for two bookings but the Canarini failed to take advantage.

Napoli 0-0 Mantova
Both sides were looking for much-needed victories to reignite their promotion push, but the atmosphere was inevitably affected by the fact this game was played on neutral turf in Perugia and behind closed doors due to crowd trouble in previous Napoli fixtures. Mantova had the first real scoring opportunity with Iezzo parrying Tarana’s close-range finish with his knee, while at the other end Domizzi’s free kick was cleared off the line. Bogliacino was unlucky not to give the Azzurri the lead when his fierce drive thumped the crossbar and Cristante’s goalline clearance kept out Inacio Pia’s follow-up. Iezzo saved from Caridi and Dalla Bona ballooned a couple of chances over, as the game limped towards an inevitable 0-0 scoreline.

Rimini 2-0 Piacenza
Rimini leapfrog past Piacenza in the table with this important victory at the Stadio Neri. Riccio had a good opportunity on the counter-attack after three minutes, but the home side had the better of the overall play with chances for Ricchiuti and Valiani. The game changed in the second half, although there is confusion over who scored the opener, as Valiani's shot may have taken a final touch off Ricchiuti or defender Nef. Moscardelli rounded out the result in stoppages with a sublime solo effort, sprinting through the defence for a delicate chipped finish.

Triestina 1-3 Bologna
Bologna are the new Serie B leaders awaiting Juve’s rescheduled match with Cesena after this prestigious away win. It took Della Rocca just six minutes to break through in Trieste, as Bellucci exchanged passes with Della Rocca and the youngster flashed his right-foot finish into the far corner. Capocannoniere Bellucci continued his fine form by dispossessing the Triestina midfielders and beating Rossi as he rushed out to clear. The home side got themselves back into the game on the stroke of half-time with Graffiedi picking up an Antonioli loose ball, but Bologna wasted the opportunity to put the tie beyond doubt. Zauli was brought down just moments after stepping on to the field and Bellucci fired the penalty wide of the target. Play was halted for 10 minutes for a floodlight failure, but when it resumed Bellucci ran down the right to set up Meghni's tap-in.

Verona 0-1 Arezzo
Verona are an outfit in free-fall after bottom of the table Arezzo stole a last-gasp winner at the Stadio Bentegodi. The home side had looked more threatening in the early stages with Iunco creating two good chances, but the game went off the boil somewhat before the interval. Just after the restart, Arezzo were reduced to 10 men when Conte was sent off for a handling offence. However, Verona didn’t push home their advantage and were fortunate not to be behind when Bondi was a whisker away from opening the scoring. Hellas ‘keeper Pegolo continued to keep his side in the game after the Gialloblu lost their numerical advantage when Iunco was dismissed for dissent. Just as a draw seemed inevitable, Roselli picked out the completely unmarked Floro Flores who headed home to condemn Verona to a third straight defeat and possibly signal the end for Coach Massimo Ficcadenti.

Source: C4 Football Italia