Serie B - Week 4: Weekend Review

Friday 19 September
Modena 0-1 Salernitana
Salernitana are flying at the moment and notched up their third win in four games against furious nine-man Modena. The turning point proved to be just before half-time, as after Fava earned and converted a penalty for Gemiti's foul, Bruno and two minutes later Cardone saw red for dissent. Despite that situation, the Canarini stayed in the game for the entire second half and went close to an equaliser with Biabany's snapshot and a stoppage-time Pinardi strike. Modena are yet to pick up a single point and were it not for Avellino's penalty would be propping up the table.


Cittadella 0-2 Mantova
Mantova maintained their unbeaten run with this victory away to struggling new boys Cittadella. Godeas opened the scoring just shy of the hour mark and soon after Caridi converted a spot-kick to put the result beyond doubt. Despite picking up two points from four games, Cittadella are yet to score a single goal in Serie B this season, but were unlucky in this match to hit the woodwork twice.

Saturday 20 September
Grosseto 1-0 Parma
Grosseto grabbed another prestigious scalp, but Parma are really struggling so far this season. Consonni created the winning goal, as he burst into the box and his shot cannoned off the crossbar on to the grateful foot of Lazzari. Despite Cristiano Lucarelli coming off the bench, the Gialloblu couldn't create any real scoring opportunities and need to rethink their approach.

Albinoleffe 2-1 Avellino
Albinoleffe go top alongside Salernitana, but made hard work of beating a side that ended the match with just eight men on the field. It has been a disastrous few days for Avellino, who were handed a three-point penalty for handing their financial documents in after the deadline. Gragnaniello brought down Ferrari to give Ruopolo the opening penalty, then De Zerbi's effort was palmed into the path of Doudou. Goalkeeper Gragnaniello saw red just before half-time, yet Avellino continued to push and hit the woodwork through Mensah. The winning goal was fraught with controversy, as Carobbio's free kick was repeated, but De Zerbi and Doudou took their protests too far.

Livorno 1-1 Pisa
The Tuscan derby ends in a draw with both goals in the space of eight minutes. Pisa got the stronger start, though Livorno improved towards half-time and had the best chances with Diamanti and Danilevicius. Diamanti got on the scoresheet with one of his trademark left-foot free kicks, but soon after Genevier kept his cool from the penalty spot.

Rimini 0-1 Empoli
Empoli finally put a mark in the wins column and sent sorry Rimini tumbling down the standings. Lodi shook the woodwork and Pasquato set up a good chance for Moro, but it was the Juventus youth product who decided the match 15 minutes from time.

Vicenza 1-2 Bari
Barreto was the hero in Bari's impressive away win. Sgrigna had given Vicenza the advantage, but Barreto equalised with a powerful free kick. Goalkeeper Fortin was dismissed for handling outside the box and naturally the visitors stepped up the pressure, eventually getting all three points with Barreto's brace completed by a solo effort.

Brescia 2-1 Ascoli
Brescia finally grabbed their first win of the season after three consecutive draws. Ascoli had taken the lead when Pesce met a splendid Soncin assist from the left flank and Taibi denied Possanzini an equaliser with a trademark header. However, the veteran goalkeeper wasn't at his best when dealing with an Nsereko snapshot from distance. Soncin threatened to restore Ascoli's advantage, but in the final minutes Possanzini turned in the Rondinelle's decider from close range.

Ancona 0-1 Piacenza
Piacenza left it very late indeed to doom Ancona to another poor result. It was unfair on the home side, who had the better of the play and were denied by goalkeeper Cassano on numerous occasions, most notably a Miramontes free kick. In the final minute youngster Ferraro snatched the winner by springing the offside trap.

Frosinone 1-0 Treviso
Eder has so far scored all Frosinone's Serie B goals this season and is single-handedly keeping them afloat. The Brazilian curled in a classic free kick just six minutes into the match and tested Guardalben with a similar attempt in the second half. Treviso were understandably shaken after seeing their three-point penalty for illegally suing club Lanciano extended to four this week for handing their financial documents in late.

Triestina 1-1 Sassuolo
This was certainly an eventful and ill-tempered encounter that burst to life in the second half. Zampagna gave the visitors the lead by side-footing home Masucci's assist, but Sassuolo were reduced to 10 men soon after for Pensalfini's foolish two bookings in three minutes. Triestina tried to take advantage, but Ardemagni hit a weak penalty straight at Bressan. Minelli also saw red, this time for the home side, though they kept pushing and eventually earned a point thanks to Princivalli's more accurate spot-kick.

Source: C4 Football Italia