Serie B Week 37: Review

Saturday 26 April
Albinoleffe 1-0 Bologna
Albinoleffe achieved victory in what was effectively a play-off to leapfrog past the Rossoblu into second place. The home side knew the importance right from the start and Antonioli was at full stretch to deny Ruopolo before Carobbio curled a brilliant free kick over the wall to open the scoring. The Bologna ‘keeper continued to work on Cellini, but there was a scare at the other end as Coser’s desperate reaction save kept out Marazzina from point-blank range. Valiani, Carrus and Amoroso had chances, but the best was a Ruopolo header parried by Antonioli. With virtually the last kick of the game, Marazzina nodded a corner inches past the post.


Pisa 1-1 Chievo
Chievo had the opportunity to break away at the top of the table, but were held to a draw in Tuscany. Obinna gave them the perfect start with a fierce strike from Luciano’s assist and it looked bad for Pisa when Kutuzov went off injured soon after, but D’Anna bagged the equaliser that holds the Flying Donkeys down.

Ravenna 1-3 Lecce
Lecce made short work of relegation strugglers Ravenna to close in on the top spots. The home side wasn’t helped when losing Trotta to injury in the opening five minutes and when Ariatti was brought down by the goalkeeper, it gave Valdes the chance to convert a penalty. Just as Ravenna were putting some pressure on with Pecorari and Sforzini, Lecce doubled their lead with Valdes’ effort parried into the path of Boudianski and went 3-0 up through Abbruscato on the counter. Pecorari was fouled for a Succi consolation spot-kick.

Brescia 0-0 Treviso
Brescia’s hopes of catching the top two take another blow with this disappointing result against a Treviso side desperate to avoid relegation. Possanzini thought he had done enough to win it, but his goal was disallowed for an offside position and even after Piovaccari’s dismissal Serse Cosmi’s men couldn’t find enough to break them down, mainly thanks to at least five world class saves from the Treviso shot-stopper.

Spezia 2-2 Avellino
These two sides were locked together third from bottom going into the game and are in the same position at the end of the 90 minutes. Eliakwu and Pellicori converted first half penalties and though Zizzari thought he had snatched it for Spezia, the Avellino star completed his brace.

Vicenza 3-2 Rimini
A week after their chaotic 4-3 defeat to Ravenna, Rimini tumble again to a relegation struggler. Pagano had given them the lead going into half-time, but the difference in motivation was evident for all to see at the Stadio Menti. Terranova, Matteini and Masiello turned the situation around in the space of 14 minutes and Porchia’s late penalty was scant consolation for a side that has all but gone on holiday.

Cesena 1-1 Triestina
A point may do little to keep Cesena in Serie B, but they did remarkably well to take away a result after playing with 10 men for almost the entire match. Granoche put himself level with Godeas at the top of the Capocannoniere charts just four minutes in, but Pesaresi’s last man foul saw him sent off and Salvetti convert the equalising penalty. Despite the situation, the home side clung on to the scoreline.

Bari 1-1 Modena
Bruno netted against his former club in this mid-table tussle at the Stadio San Nicola. He wore the Bari jersey in 2004, but the well-travelled striker found his goal wiped out on the hour mark by Gazzi.

Mantova 0-1 Ascoli
Mantova’s dismal limp towards the finish line continues, as Ascoli made up for their shock defeat to Grosseto last week. Guberti had a great early chance and Handanovic parried a Nastos piledriver, but the turning point came after the restart when Balestri tripped Luci for a Saverino spot-kick. Sommese and Luci had more opportunities, but only an Aquilanti goalline clearance prevented Godeas from earning a point late on.

Grosseto 1-1 Frosinone
Grosseto can pretty much consider themselves safe from the drop following this positive result. Danilevicius’ strike would have sparked even more of a celebration had it not been cancelled out by the usual Lodi screamer in the second half, taking his seasonal tally to 18 goals.

Messina 2-0 Piacenza
With this result Messina are mathematically safe from the risk of relegation, but the same cannot be said of Piacenza. The second straight victory was achieved through Cordova’s counter-attack – taking advantage of Piacenza’s confusion over Foti not interfering with play in an offside position – and Foti’s angled drive. The visitors were unlucky, as Zanchi’s goalline clearance denied Dedic when it was still goalless.

Source: C4 Football Italia