Serie B - Week 10: Weekend Review

Friday 24 October
Empoli 0-3 Pisa
Pisa caused a huge upset in the Tuscan derby as Empoli plunged to a second consecutive Serie B defeat. The visitors have been struggling this season, but shocked last week's leaders in the first half. Bassi denied Buzzegoli an early opener, but could do nothing on his penalty for a foul on Birindelli. Joelson pounced on a defensive error to double the advantage and after the break former Empoli star Gasparetto completed the rout. Silvio Baldini’s side were never really in the game and this is an embarrassing setback.


Triestina 1-1 Albinoleffe
These two sides are on the fringes of the play-off race and fought hard for an entertaining 1-1 draw. Albinoleffe had their goalkeeper to thank for two crucial first half saves that allowed them to take the lead after the restart through Carobbio’s free kick. Narciso again came to the rescue on Della Rocca’s header, but was powerless to resist Allegretti’s curling set play. Minelli’s second bookable offence made it a very open end to the game, as Gabionetta blasted over the opportunity to secure victory for Leffe.

Saturday 25 October
Vicenza 1-0 Sassuolo
Sassuolo fell to a surprise defeat that puts Vicenza in second place, but remained top of the table thanks to losses for Grosseto and Empoli. The game turned on 52 minutes, as Bressan palmed Sgrigna's effort over the bar and from the resulting corner Anselmi was penalised for holding back Bjelanovic. Sgrigna stepped up and converted the penalty. He nearly got a second soon after, bringing a fine save out of Bressan, but Sassuolo felt hard done by at the final whistle after seeing two goals disallowed.

Bari 3-1 Grosseto
There was no question who was Man of the Match here, as 21-year-old Francesco Caputo bagged a spectacular hat-trick to end Grosseto's hopes of topping the table. His header began the rout just 13 minutes in and De Vezze went close to a second, but on the stroke of half-time Abruzzese saw red. Despite that dismissal, Grosseto still drew level after the restart through Vitiello's volley. Caputo took control, the youngster thumping a right-foot strike and then another header for a memorable afternoon, as he had never previously scored in Serie B.

Salernitana 2-1 Ancona
Salernitana got back on track after two straight defeats, but got off to a dreadful start here too. Mastronunzio was allowed a simple tap-in from Rizzato's assist just nine minutes in and, to make matters worse, Fava picked up an injury and Di Napoli's free kick hit the post. However, Ancona shot themselves in the foot with Rizzato's handling offence giving Scarpa a penalty and Catinali's dismissal allowing Kyriazis to complete the comeback from a corner kick.

Mantova 1-3 Parma
Parma snatched a potentially decisive victory for their promotion bid in a very eventful game. Caridi may have been offside when he put Mantova in front, then Handanovic denied Morrone and Leon a potential equaliser. The Gialloblu were furious to see Lucarelli and Leon goals controversially disallowed, decisions that prompted Coach Francesco Guidolin's dismissal for dissent. Damiano Zenoni finally drew level with a daisy-cutter and that opened the floodgates. Sacchetti brought down Leon for a Lucarelli penalty and three minutes later Reginaldo smacked in from the edge of the box.

Modena 1-3 Brescia
Brescia had to fight back to shoot down the Canarini, as De Oliveira had put Modena in front. Perna was judged to have held back Caracciolo and the former Palermo striker converted the penalty himself. Hungarian Feczesin turned the game around with his splendid lob and the tension got to Marsili. The referee pointed to the spot a second time and, although Frezzolini saved Baronio's attempt, there was no denying the rebound.

Livorno 2-1 Rimini
Livorno saw off struggling Rimini without too much strain. Rossini nodded in Diamanti's cross and Tavano met Bonetto's assist, although the former Empoli and Valencia man could easily have scored more. Rimini staged a late fight-back with Vantaggiato, while Cipriani hit the bar.

Ascoli 1-2 Cittadella
It has been a bad week for Ascoli and an even worse debut for new Coach Vincenzo Chiarenza, who took over from Nello Di Costanzo. Iori converted an early penalty that was Cittadella's third goal of the season. Luci turned in from a deflected free kick to equalise and Soncin almost won it with an overhead kick that.

Avellino 0-0 Frosinone
Precious little happened at the Partenio as Frosinone emerged frustrated. Gragnanello performed a couple of saves, but top scorer Eder let the tension get to him and was sent off for a reaction foul. At least the fans were able to celebrate the fact Avellino's three-point penalty for financial irregularities was quashed on appeal on Friday.

Treviso 3-2 Piacenza
Treviso secured an impressive comeback in this eventful encounter. Iorio accidentally turned Palermo's cross into his own net, but Piacenza turned it around through Ferraro's header and Nainggolan. Two goals in the space of 10 minutes sent the home fans wild as Scurto and a Scaglia right-foot strike from distance sealed the scoreline.

Source: C4 Football Italia