Serie B Week 42: Review

Sunday 1 June
Bologna 1-0 Pisa
After three frustrating years, Bologna have returned to Serie A. The seven-time Scudetto winners knew that their fate was in their own hands and Marazzina converted a penalty after just nine minutes for his 23rd goal of the season, sending the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara into a frenzy. The pulses were racing as the Felsinei held off their Tuscan opponents to secure top-flight football. The visitors will now look to join them in the top-flight through the play-offs.

[BOLOGNA PROMOTED]


Lecce 1-0 Vicenza
Lecce beat mid-table Vicenza, but there was an air of disappointment at Via Del Mare as it wasn't enough to secure automatic promotion. Brazilian defender Angelo found the net after 18 minutes to round off a superb campaign but the fans were listening to their radios for the second period and knew that the Salentini would need to come through the play-offs.

Chievo 2-2 Bari
This was a promotion party for Chievo after the Flying Donkeys guaranteed promotion last week. The Gialloblu bade farewell to the second tier with an entertaining four-goal tie and secured the Serie B title. Former Hellas Verona man Iunco bagged a brace, but Bari showed why they have been tipped for the top next year by holding the champions thanks to Cavalli and a Santoruvo penalty.

Frosinone 2-2 Albinoleffe
Tiny Albinoleffe are limping into the play-offs after three consecutive defeats and looked shaken by the departure of Coach Elio Gustinetti during this draw. After last week's 4-1 hiding against Rimini, Leffe needed a smooth start but they went behind halfway through the first period to a goal from talented hitman Evacuo. Substitute Colacone hit back, but Evacuo completed his brace in the closing stages before a last-gasp Serafini equaliser.

Avellino 1-1 Brescia
It was a sombre affair at the Stadio Partenio with Avellino already doomed to Serie C and neither side had the determination to chase the game after a dramatic first 10 minutes. Rispoli's fifth-minute effort was cancelled out by a penalty from the impressive Pellicori before the game fizzled out. Brescoa can now concentrate on the play-offs.

Rimini 3-0 Messina
Rimini ended the season agonisingly short of the play-off zone but gave Coach Leonardo Acori a fitting send-off with this comfortable win. Two goals in 10 minutes from Camera and Vantaggiato ensured that Messina heads went down and the dependable Ricchiuti finished the job. Greco missed a penalty, but it really didn't matter.

Piacenza 3-3 Mantova
There was nothing to play for in this draw between two sides who endured disappointing campaigns, but it was a thrilling game. It was a tale of two hitmen as Dedic confirmed his status as Piacenza's guiding light with his seventh penalty of the season, but the lethal Godeas celebrated the Capocannoniere crown with his 27th before making it 28 when he cancelled out Zammuto's goal from the spot. Piacenza thought they had taken the meaningless points courtesy of Juncal in the final minute but Noselli ensured parity at the death.

Ascoli 3-1 Triestina
A heartening second half of the season will have given Ascoli's fans some hope for next year and they finished an inconsistent campaign with victory over a feckless Triestina outfit. Soncin's 17th goal came almost from the kick-off and Saverino got in on the act before half-time. Nine minutes after the break, Soncin hit number 18 before Minelli provided some consolation.

Spezia 2-2 Grosseto
Spezia's spell in the Second Division ended with an entertaining draw with a Grosseto outfit who have extended their inaugural Serie B stay. Pichlmann's cool penalty opened the scoring on the half hour mark but Guidetti struck back. Potential star of the future Eliakwu netted, but was cancelled out within 180 seconds by Lazzari, who capped an impressive season.

Treviso 1-1 Modena
Both sides breathed sighs of relief last weekend when their survival was secured and looked short of motivation after a brief first-half flurry, which saw Bruno back his 18th goal and Lupoli find a long-awaited goal from the spot.

Ravenna 0-0 Cesena
Neither side managed to lift the gloom in this battle of two already relegated sides. Ravenna looked the more lively in a depressing stalemate, but there are tough times ahead.

Source: C4 Football Italia