Serie B Week 19: Review

Saturday 22 December
Messina 2-1 Bologna
Bologna stumble in Sicily, but still keep hold of the Serie B leadership. Marazzina had given them the lead early on by pouncing on the ricochet from Fava’s shot against the post. The key figure for Messina was Cordova, whose free kick forced a corner that Giosa redirected into the net. Degano’s header hit the bar, but Cordova was decisive again as he curled in one of his trademark set-pieces. Messina could have had more, as Antonioli parried Biancolino’s effort and Marazzina’s goalline clearance denied Lazzari. Parisi saw red for a second bookable offence, but Bologna failed to take advantage and Bombardini was sent off for dissent after Mingazzini had an equaliser controversially disallowed for offside.


Bari 0-4 Lecce
There is no question over who has the bragging rights after this Puglia derby. It is in their finishing that the two teams truly stand apart, as Abbruscato bagged a brace from a Vives cross and deflected corner kick, while Tiribocchi bagged one goal and set up the fourth for Tulli. Bari came closest to a goal when Stellini’s header struck the woodwork, but it was scant consolation.

Pisa 1-0 Ravenna
Pisa took home three precious points after another less than impressive performance. Zoppetti got the only goal of the game by bundling in a corner kick, but Ravenna were kicking themselves are missing a series of chances, including a penalty that Succi fired wide of the target.

Albinoleffe 0-0 Ascoli
Albinoleffe were denied victory by the woodwork and a wonderful performance from Taibi in goal. The veteran shot-stopper kept out at least three clear scoring opportunities and Carobbio thumped the crossbar.

Vicenza 1-3 Chievo
Chievo dominated this local derby with their seventh away victory of the campaign. Italiano hit the crossbar early on, but Pellissier was the Man of the Match thanks to his well-taken brace of counters either side of Capone’s tap-in. Obinna secured the result in stoppages as his left-foot drive took a deflection off Terranova.

Mantova 3-1 Spezia
Godeas was the star of the show as his hat-trick ensured a fifth consecutive victory for Mantova and made him top scorer in Serie B. Guidetti thought he had broken the deadlock, but it was disallowed, so Godeas sent his men into the half-time break 1-0 up. Godeas struck twice more, though Guidetti did finally get his moment of glory for Spezia.

Brescia 2-0 Rimini
Brescia got back to winning ways to remain in the promotion race as they took out one of their direct rivals for those spots. Both sides went for it in the first half and Rimini were unlucky not to open the scoring when Valiani skimmed the woodwork. Possanzini broke the deadlock with s solo effort and eight minutes later Tacchinardi pounced on a Stankevicius long ball.

Grosseto 2-1 Piacenza
Grosseto earned a surprise victory to go level on points with the more illustrious Piacenza. Nef turned a D’Anna free kick over from point-blank range and had another couple of good chances for the visitors in the first half, but Lazzari gave Grosseto the lead by squeezing the ball in from an improbable angle. Cacia scored perhaps his final goal for Piace, finalising an impressive Kharja move, but Lazzari won it with an extraordinary lob from midfield that caught goalkeeper Cassano off his line.

Modena 2-2 Frosinone
Frosinone twice threw away an advantage at the Stadio Braglia. Lodi nodded over early on before Amerini exchanged passes with Evacuo inside the area. Colacone and Prosperi clashed for a Koffi penalty, but Lodi restored Frosinone’s lead with one of his trademark left-foot rockets. However, they shot themselves in the foot when Salvatore Bocchetti accidentally turned a Giampa’ corner into his own net.

Cesena 4-1 Treviso
Cesena end 2007 by finally clambering off the foot of the table with a convincing victory. Baccin brought down Salvetti for Moscardelli’s spot-kick and Pia drew level by taking advantage of a lucky ricochet. However, the home side took control as Vignati’s header, a Moscardelli solo effort and substitute Ferretti’s stoppage-time strike rounded out the scoreline with Baccin sent off for Treviso.

Triestina 2-2 Avellino
This was certainly an eventful encounter with four goals, three red cards and an upright, but Avellino must be wondering how they threw away the full points. The visitors were 2-0 up by the 35th minute thanks to a Salgado poacher’s goal and Pellicori penalty. Triestina’s half-time talk must have shaken the walls, as they came out fighting with Della Rocca pulled one back and Granoche both earned and converted a spot-kick. The tension got to Avellino as Sestu and Sirignano saw red in the space of four minutes, but the nine-man team risked winning at the death when Baldanzeddu’s volley hit the post. Petras was also dismissed.

Source: C4 Football Italia