Serie B Wk 39: Review

Saturday 19 May
Arezzo 1-5 Juventus
Juventus bounced straight back into Serie A following their 5-1 win at Arezzo this afternoon. The Turin club, demoted from the top flight and given a nine-point deduction last year following the Calciopoli scandal, won promotion from Serie B with three games to spare. Alessandro Del Piero and Giorgio Chiellini put Juve 2-0 up, with Floro Flores pulling one back for Arezzo. Chiellini and Del Piero both added second goals before David Trezeguet completed the scoring. [Juventus clinch promotion]

Bari 2-2 Genoa
Di Vaio completed a late comeback from 2-0 down to earn a point, but this will go down as a wasted opportunity. Bari are something of a bete noir for Genoa, as their 0-0 draw earlier this season was the only time they have failed to score at Marassi and this surprise defeat halts their promotion push. Both goalkeepers were kept busy early on, as Gillet flew to palm out a Leon free kick and Rubinho rushed out to clear from Tabbiani. On 27 minutes Bari turned up the pressure, as first Criscito needed a crucial tackle to stop Ganci, then from the resulting corner Fusani’s acrobatic effort skimmed the bar. Yet Di Vaio really should have given the Grifone the lead when he was one-on-one and fired straight at the goalkeeper.

It proved a costly error, as straight after the restart the Galletti hit a quick one-two. Ganci smashed a right-foot strike into the top corner, then Tabbiani’s quickly-taken free kick stunned the defence, allowing Scaglia to tap in after Galeoto’s attempted clearance hit the bar. Genoa got themselves back into the game thanks to a similar error at the other end, as Leon was left unmarked at the back post to cut back for Criscito’s left-foot finish. Di Vaio completed the comeback after Leon had a penalty shout rejected, as Di Vaio was at full stretch to turn Bega’s pass in from point-blank range. Bari boss Materazzi was sent off for dissent in stoppages.

Bologna 0-1 Brescia
Bologna are all but out of the play-offs, but the real ‘star’ of the show was President Alfredo Cazzola. After what he perceived to be a series of refereeing errors that damaged his club, he went down to the side of the pitch and called his players off the field. His own squad chose to continue and Brescia emerged with a 1-0 victory.

The main reason for the Rossoblu defeat was Brescia goalkeeper Viviano, who performed some crucial stops on Amoroso, Bellucci and Zauli. Bellucci had also hit the woodwork after just eight minutes, but Serafini got the only goal when Antonioli parried a Possanzini strike into his path. Bologna President Cazzola was infuriated by two penalty shouts – for a seemingly involuntary Zoboli handling offence and Santacroce shirt-tug on Bellucci – and the two late red cards for Bellucci and Filippini.

Cesena 1-1 Piacenza
The local derby ended in a stalemate. Piacenza had the brighter start with Stamilla thumping the post and eventually he hit the back of the net by nodding in Degano’s cross. Pellicori scuffed the potential equaliser with the goal gaping and Coppola performed a splendid save to deny Del Core’s acrobatic effort, but substitute Pelle finalised a Papa Waigo move in the second half.

Frosinone 1-1 Treviso
The points are shared at the Stadio Matusa and Frosinone are not yet mathematically safe from the threat of relegation. Treviso dominated the first half and went close with Acquafresca and Fava, but the home side came out fighting after the break and Margiotta pounced on a loose ball. The equaliser came just eight minutes from time, as Russotto unleashed a powerful left-foot strike from the edge of the area.

Mantova 0-2 Verona
Verona gave themselves a potentially decisive boost in the race to avoid Serie C1, but Mantova slide out of the top four with this embarrassing setback. Pegolo kept his men in it by denying Sommese, Tarana and a Noselli point-blank effort and so Hellas were able to take the lead when Turati redirected Greco’s corner kick. The home side continued to waste chances and Babu made the result safe in stoppages on Ferrarese’s assist.

Napoli 1-1 Modena
The two sides both desperately needed points, as Napoli were hoping to avoid the play-offs by creating a 10-point gap from fourth place, while Modena hovered above the relegation zone. Iezzo denied Bruno as he ran on to Pinardi’s assist, but the goalkeeper suffered an injury in that move and limped off after just 12 minutes. The Canarini had the better of the first half, with Longo’s two successive shots charged down, but Napoli took the lead on 32 minutes. Sosa and Calaio scuffed crosses before Sosa finally managed to get a decent touch to the ball. Bruno was again dangerous, as was Campedelli, but Sosa tried to set up Calaio instead of going for glory himself. Just before half-time Modena equalised on the counter with Longo threading through to release Tamburini.

Narciso did well to deny De Zerbi’s shot from the edge of the area and Bruno’s header was off target. Napoli had the chance to win it eight minutes from time when Sosa’s shirt was tugged in the area. However, Calaio fired the penalty straight at Narciso. It was a fiery finale at the San Paolo as both Gilioli and Montervino saw red.

Pescara 2-3 Albinoleffe
Pescara were already relegated going into this weekend, but still made a real game out of it. Ruopolo had a goal disallowed for offside and Gori fired over an empty net, but Ruopolo eventually gave Albinoleffe something to show for their pressure when he pounced on a parried Ferrari effort. The former Parma youngster then set up Cristiano’s strike moments later, but Martini converted a penalty to keep Pescara in the running. Ruopolo was unstoppable and shook the crossbar before Piantoni netted his first Serie B goal. Olivieri’s header made the scoreline more palatable for the Stadio Adriatico crowd.

Spezia 3-4 Rimini
The fans were certainly not bored after this seven-goal thriller. It was a blistering start with three strikes in the opening nine minutes! Jeda converted a penalty, followed by Colombo’s equaliser and Addoni accidentally turning a cross past his own ‘keeper. Jeda set up another goal for Ricchiuti on the stroke of half-time, but the Brazilian fired a penalty off target. There was another flurry of activity in the final stages. Scarlato’s right-foot volley gave Spezia hope of a comeback, though Bravo and a last-gasp Giudetti penalty sealed the memorable scoreline.

Triestina 2-0 Crotone
Crotone are relegated to Serie C1 after their 21st defeat of the campaign and they never got a look-in at the Stadio Nereo Rocco. Eliakwu wasted a golden opportunity and Marchesetti was denied by the woodwork before Briano took advantage of a woeful clearance. Eliakwu sealed the scoreline in stoppages by redirecting Pivotto’s cross.

Vicenza 1-3 Lecce
January signing Tiribocchi has made a world of difference to Lecce’s fortunes and his hat-trick grabbed a crucial away victory. The former Chievo hitman opened his account with a right-foot volley and, after a Padoin solo effort, completed the treble with another shot on the bounce and an angled drive.

Source: C4 Football Italia