Serie B Week 20: Review

Saturday 12 January
Bologna 3-0 Mantova
Marazzina was the hat-trick hero as Bologna mauled promotion rivals Mantova. He opened his tally with a towering header from Lavecchia’s cross, then the visitors were unlucky not to equalise as Passoni hit the crossbar straight from the corner flag and Corona’s follow-up was tipped over the bar by Antonioli. Fiore also tested the Rossoblu goalkeeper and Daino’s goalline clearance kept out Caridi, but Marazzina took control in the second half. The former Chievo striker pounced on a Sacchetti error, then turned in Daino’s cross from the right. January signing Bucchi also made his debut for Bologna.


Spezia 1-4 Pisa
Pisa started 2008 on the right foot after stuttering in the closing stages of last year. Just five minutes into the match, D’Anna was brought down and Castillo converted the spot-kick. Guidetti was unlucky not to draw Spezia level moments later when his effort cannoned off the crossbar and Kutuzov doubled the advantage with a solo effort. Guidetti did get the home side back into the game with a screamer, but Camorani foolishly picked up his second yellow card, leaving Spezia with 10 men for the entire second half. They still pushed forward and allowed Kutuzov and Juliano to seal the points on the counter.

Chievo 2-0 Grosseto
Chievo made hard work of little Grosseto and struggled to a 2-0 victory. Marcolini had the opportunity to open the scoring after 19 minutes, but saw his penalty saved by Bressan. The Flying Donkeys regrouped and made up for the error when defender Mandelli rose for a powerful header. The result remained in the balance until the final nine minutes, when Pellissier struck to make the points safe.

Lecce 0-0 Messina
This was a missed opportunity for Lecce, who slide out of the top three after seeing a late spot-kick saved. Messina managed to keep the Salentini relatively quiet throughout aside from Manitta saves on headers from Stendardo and Cottafava. When Stendardo was punished for a handling offence six minutes from time, Valdes saw his penalty parried by Manitta.

Rimini 0-0 Albinoleffe
Rimini played their first game since top scorer Jeda moved to Cagliari and his absence was felt in this sluggish performance. Albinoleffe were also uninspired on the day and neither side could find a winning goal. Vitiello's backheel finish skimmed the upright, Del Prato needed a goalline clearance and Vantaggiato failed to slot into an empty net. Albinoleffe's best chance on 52 minutes had Gervasoni rattle the woodwork.

Ascoli 1-1 Modena
The game was decided in the space of eight minutes at the Stadio Del Duca between two teams who are not in the best shape right now. Perrulli thought he had earned the points for Ascoli, but soon after Roma youth product Okaka grabbed an equaliser out of nowhere into the top corner. Before then, Perrulli and Guberti had gone close for the home side.

Ravenna 0-1 Vicenza
Zampagna had a memorable debut in the Vicenza jersey, scoring the winner to lift his new team off the foot of the table. This was a relegation dogfight and the points could prove decisive come May. Former Atalanta striker Zampagna was on target just 25 minutes in.

Frosinone 0-0 Brescia
The Rondinelle start 2008 in the same sluggish fashion as they ended the last solar year. Their performance was not helped by an appalling pitch at the Stadio Matusa and constant rainfall throughout the match, but Frosinone had the best chances with Martini missing an open goal and Viviano saving a Lodi strike.

Avellino 3-2 Bari
Antonio Conte had a disappointing debut on the Bari bench in this entertaining encounter at the Partenio. Hungarian Kenesei opened the scoring before Cavalli's screamer and Antonelli's header turned it all around. Avellino fought back in the second half with Pellicori first drawing level by making the most of a defensive error, then converting a late penalty for a foul on Di Cecco.

Treviso 2-0 Triestina
Treviso grabbed an important win in this Friuli-Venezia-Giulia derby. Barreto was hero and villain for the home side, as he opened the scoring but then saw his penalty saved by Triestina shot-stopper Dei. Piovaccari ensured the points were safe in the final minutes.

Piacenza 0-0 Cesena
Both teams seemed more afraid of defeat than eager to win and so the 0-0 draw was fairly inevitable at the Stadio Garilli.

Source: C4 Football Italia