Serie B - Week 7: Weekend Review

Friday 3 October
Bari 1-0 Mantova
Bari defeated Mantova in controversial fashion for their first win at the Stadio San Nicola this season. Caputo nodded Kamata’s cross just wide and a Barreto free kick was palmed out for a corner, while the home side had penalty appeals for a handling offence. The match was decided on 77 minutes when substitute Rivas was at full stretch to turn in a Masiello assist, but the midfielder was clearly in an offside position. Caputo threatened the 2-0 late on, but his header was well saved.


Saturday 4 October
Sassuolo 2-0 Treviso
Sassuolo continue their reign at the top of the Serie B standings and Noselli also remains the clear leader in the Capocannoniere charts. He opened the scoring and the result was in the balance until former Treviso man Poli sealed it against his old teammates.

Piacenza 0-1 Salernitana
Piacenza crumbled at the Garilli in a sluggish performance in front of their home fans. Salernitana won it thanks to Fava's goal on the hour mark and Ciarcià's lob skimmed the target in a good chance to make it 2-0.

Parma 0-0 Modena
Francesco Guidolin made his debut on the Parma bench following Gigi Cagni's dismissal, but the result remained disappointing in this local derby. At least the Tardini side were a little more attack-minded with Cristiano Lucarelli firing wide and a header off target, while Pavarini's save denied Biabany. The best opportunity fell to Parma, but Leon and Paloschi got in each others' way and the ball clattered against the crossbar.

Grosseto 2-2 Albinoleffe
Albinoleffe twice threw away a lead in Grosseto and missed a penalty as they fall further behind Sassuolo in the race for the top spot in Serie B. Vitiello comically bundled a cross into his own net to send the home side into the break 1-0 down, but straight after the restart Sansovini converted a penalty. The final 25 minutes were packed with drama. Ruopolo restored Leffe's lead and Abruzzese saw a straight red card for a foul in the area, but Cellini drilled the resulting spot-kick wide of the target. Despite playing with 10 men, Grosseto snatched a point through Carparelli.

Brescia 2-1 Frosinone
Brescia celebrated their first win under Coach Nedo Sonetti and had Gorzegno to thank for the result. He broke the deadlock just before half-time with a sudden snapshot to shake up what had been a dismal first half. Dedic drew level for Frosinone, but late on Gorzegno struck again to grab the points. It was a tense occasion with a scuffle breaking out after the final whistle.

Pisa 3-1 Triestina
This was certainly an eventful encounter. Della Rocca had given Triestina the perfect start after three minutes with a turn and strike, but Greco replied before the break. The problems really began in the second half, as Pisa Coach Giampiero Ventura was sent off for dissent, followed by Job for a second bookable offence, both of which were for simulation. Triestina seemed to be in a position to go on and win it, but the 10-man Tuscans turned up the pressure instead with Gasparetto and Alvarez in quick succession.

Ancona 5-0 Rimini
Rimini have been poor this season, but this humiliating thumping could be the final straw for Coach Elvio Selinghini. Mastronunzio began the rout and went on to complete his brace, while Nassi, Miramontes and De Falco flattened the sorry visitors.

Avellino 0-2 Ascoli
Due to safety fears over the structure of the Stadio Partenio, fans and journalists were barred from attending. Only two television cameras were allowed by the sidelines at the discretion of the referee. Nothing seems to be going Avellino's way recently and they fell behind to Guberti's opener just 12 minutes in. Nastos sealed the scoreline in the second half after Taibi had parried a couple of good opportunities from Pellicori.

Cittadella 0-1 Vicenza
The Veneto derby kicked off a half-hour late after the referee complained that the two team strips were too similar. Vicenza did not have their away kit with them, so were forced to play wearing their training tops. It didn't seem to hurt their performance, as the visitors won the match through Botta's late strike.

Monday 6 October
Empoli 2-1 Livorno
Empoli came from behind to triumph in the Tuscan derby against Livorno and move second in the table after a dramatic clash. Livorno went ahead when Azzurrini ace Candreva was first to react to a ball from ex-Empoli man Tavano. Tosto should've levelled but he missed a great chance one-on-one with De Lucia. The hosts did restore parity thanks to some magic from Juventus-owned youngster Pasquato, whose 20-yard thunderbolt hit the bar and fell to Corvia to poke home. At the start of the second half, Tavano won a dubious penalty but he fluffed his lines against his former employers with a weak strike. And he was made to pay when Busce blasted a super strike from distance to inflict Livorno's first defeat of the season.

Source: C4 Football Italia