Serie B Wk 17: Review

Tuesday 19 December
Bologna 0-1 Juventus
It was a top of the table clash between Bologna and Juventus at the Stadio Dall’Ara, but it was decided in extremely controversial fashion. The Bianconeri wore a special jersey to commemorate Alessio Ferramosca and Riccardo Neri, the youth team players who drowned in a tragic accident on Friday. Del Piero has recovered from his injury and tested Antonioli with an early angled drive.

There was controversy on 22 minutes, as Buffon rushed out to pluck the ball off Marazzina’s feet, but he didn’t make contact and instead bumped into the Bologna striker. Nonetheless, his penalty appeals were waved away. It only further inflamed an already heated game, as the local fans had already protested against the perceived soft nature of the Calciopoli verdicts. Moments later Buffon parried a fierce Bellucci angled drive, but Antonioli’s palms were stung by a rocket from Zalayeta.

Del Piero was left red-faced as a deflected corner fell to him from six yards, but he incredibly hit a fresh air shot and as the move continued Marazzina’s goalline clearance denied Zalayeta. Camoranesi pulled up with a suspected thigh strain just before the break, making way for Birindelli.

Antonioli flew to fingertip Zanetti’s looping header out from under the crossbar and from the resulting corner Boumsong brought another excellent save out of the veteran goalkeeper. On 72 minutes Juventus took the lead in chaotic circumstances, as Zalayeta chested down a cross and hammered his shot on to the underside of the crossbar. It was controversial for two reasons – firstly the control was probably with his arm and secondly the ball did not cross the line as it bounced back off the ground. Buffon denied Marazzina, as a determined Rossoblu were left empty-handed at the end of a game that will no doubt prompt all the wrong type of headlines for Juve.

Arezzo 0-0 Crotone
This relegation battle was ruled by the fear of defeat and there were few real scoring opportunities. Arezzo saw Volpato’s goal disallowed for offside and Crotone hit the woodwork on a deflected free kick.

Bari 2-2 Rimini
Bari are kicking themselves after this incredible match, as they dominated for over an hour only to throw it all away in the final 15 minutes to a resilient Rimini. Santoruvo is in fine form and his mazy run was parried into the path of Scaglia for the early opener. The players exchanged places for the second, Scaglia’s free kick nodded at the ‘keeper by Rajcic and pushed out towards Santoruvo. There seemed to be only one team in it, but Pianu fired wide from point-blank range and this allowed Rimini back into the game. Gillet saved Moscardelli’s header with his foot and could do nothing when Cascione met Jeda’s centre, then Moscardelli turned in a Regonesi cross to complete the comeback.

Cesena 0-0 Treviso
Cesena threw away a good opportunity to climb into the top spots after they were held by a solid Treviso side. Papa Waigo created the best chances when he moved to a wide role, but the real dangers came in the final minutes. Vascak ran almost the entire length of the pitch only to fire wide instead of passing to his Treviso teammates, then Lauro skimmed the woodwork from a corner kick as the home fans were ready to celebrate.

Frosinone 2-1 Verona
The new boys keep on flying, but Verona have hit rock bottom. Margiotta and Fialdini had goals disallowed for offside, but they were only warnings that Hellas did not heed. Margiotta chested down the ball and smashed home Lodi’s cross before the break for Frosinone’s deserved lead. Verona were fortunate to equalise when Pagani accidentally turned Cutolo’s cross into his own net, but Pegolo parried a Lodi effort and could do nothing on Fialdini’s angled drive in stoppages.

Mantova 1-0 Modena
Mantova end a run of four straight draws, during which they scored once, to beat the struggling Canarini. Campedelli pulled back Noselli and Doga stepped up to convert the penalty after just 17 minutes of play. Although Modena had much of the possession, they rarely threatened save for a Sforzini header.

Napoli 3-1 Brescia
Both these sides are hoping for promotion, but recent form hasn’t helped their fortunes. Napoli broke through in the opening five minutes when De Zerbi held up the ball for Dalla Bona’s precise angled drive. Hamsyk and Possanzini had good chances to equalise, the latter forcing a splendid reaction save out of Iezzo, but a Viviano reaction stop prevented Stankevicius from scoring an own goal with his scuffed clearance.

Brescia were more attacking after the break and Cerci skimmed the upright, but once again Napoli netted with Bucchi firing in a flicked on free kick. Hamsyk’s volley put the Rondinelle back in the game, but only for six minutes before Bogliacino rifled a left-foot rocket in at the far post to secure the points.

Pescara 0-2 Piacenza
Piacenza got back on track, but there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel for the Stadio Adriatico outfit. Rantier was the star of the show, tapping in a corner kick, thumping the woodwork and securing the win after the break. Delli Carri also struck the frame of the goal for the Biancorossi.

Spezia 0-2 Lecce
Zdenek Zeman may well have saved his job with this surprise victory at on-form Spezia. The home side had the best start with Bau and then a Guidetti goal disallowed for offside before both Confalone and Alessi hit the woodwork. Caccavallo scored against the run of play just before the break, taking advantage of Gorzegno’s dreadful defensive howler. This left wide open spaces at the back and Osvaldo made the most of them by doubling Lecce’s lead with a delightful lob. Spezia remained unlucky throughout, as Gorzegno also shook the frame of the goal. It was a crucial victory for the Giallorossi following five defeats in their last six games.

Triestina 0-1 Genoa
Genoa have put their crisis behind them with this victory, but Triestina are kicking themselves for missing a host of chances. The home side threatened early on with Allegretti’s free kick and a Testini header, but it was Milanetto who gave Genoa the lead by curling in one of his trademark set plays. Triestina continued to dominate the play as Piovaccari ballooned over and Rubinho parried Rossetti’s effort. The Genoa goalkeeper also blocked another Piovaccari attempt after the break, though Rossi was made to work in order to deny Adailton’s curler. Stellini saw red for elbowing Graffiedi, but the Grifone held on under pressure from Allegretti and Testini for the final six minutes.

Vicenza 0-1 Albinoleffe
Albinoleffe continue to climb up the table with this slender win, but Vicenza stay in the danger zone. The visitors came out fighting from the get go with Joelson’s header, a disallowed Dos Santos strike and Cellini’s crucial goal as he ran on to Belingheri’s searching pass. The Biancorossi failed to muster much of a fightback and even star man Schwoch was disappointing.

Source: C4 Football Italia