Serie B: Rescheduled Matches

Tuesday 16 January
Juventus 2-1 Cesena
Despite Jonathan Zebina’s red card and more injury worries, Juventus held on to beat Cesena 2-1 and go top of the table alongside Napoli.

This Round 16 tie was rescheduled from December 15 due to the tragic accident that killed two Juventus youth team players. The visitors had a strong start, but it was the Bianconeri who broke the deadlock when Raffaele Palladino’s cutback was parried into the path of Alessandro Del Piero, who couldn’t miss from six yards. Cesena fought back as Antonio Mirante, standing in for the injured Gigi Buffon, beat away Umberto Del Core’s snapshot, but again they struck down the left flank with Federico Balzaretti’s cross for a David Trezeguet glancing header.

Doudou nodded over from a corner, though the Bianconeri were now in control as an impressive Del Piero brought a tough save out of Luca Turci and drilled just wide at the end of solo efforts. Marchisio’s spectacular right-foot strike from 25 metres brought a fine save out of Turci, then Palladino did the same. However, Cesena got back into the game in the space of four minutes. First Papa Waigo finalised a move started by Del Core by heading in the loose ball, then Jonathan Zebina saw red for a reaction foul on Mezavilla and Robert Kovac limped off with an injury, leaving no natural central defenders. The visitors poured forward and there was tension late on with penalty appeals for a De Ceglie handling offence and in stoppages Pelle’s goal disallowed for a push on Mirante. Round 16 Review >>>

Crotone 0-0 Triestina
Crotone’s rearranged Serie B Round 18 game with Triestina ended goalless at the Stadio Ezio Scida. The match, originally scheduled for December, was postponed to January 16 after a thunderstorm struck the area that flooded the pitch. The hosts were looking to earn points to move away from the lower part of the table and had a bright start to the game before wasting a golden opportunity in minute 54. They were awarded a spot-kick but Generoso Rossi saved from Alfredo Cariello. Triestina were dangerous with Isah Eliakwu, while Jaroslav Sedivec was Crotone’s star man but neither could break the deadlock. Round 18 Review >>>

Source: C4 Football Italia