Serie B - Week 12: Weekend Review

Saturday 1 November
Empoli 1-3 Ancona
Empoli continue to shoot themselves in the foot in spectacular fashion, but a second consecutive home defeat doesn't knock them off the top spot this time. Nassi gave Ancona the lead and soon after was cancelled out by Lodi springing the offside trap. Sirigu palmed a Lodi free kick on to the bar, but the difference was all in the final 15 minutes. First Nassi took advantage of a defensive error, then Mastronunzio put the result beyond doubt at a stunned but relieved Stadio Castellani.


Mantova 2-1 Grosseto
Billy Costacurta celebrates his first victory as a professional Coach and dooms leaders Grosseto to a defeat that nonetheless keeps them top of the table. Locatelli got his head to a Passoni free kick for the opener and Godeas had a goal ruled offside before doubling the advantage with another header. Grosseto made a valiant attempt to pinch a point following Carparelli’s strike, but could not avoid a second away loss on the trot.

Bari 1-0 Pisa
Bari climb up to joint second place with this slender victory over Pisa. Barreto decided the match from the penalty spot after Trevisan was adjudged to have brought down Kamata. De Vezze could have made it 2-0, but the result was punishment enough to ensure Pisa’s fourth defeat of the season.

Salernitana 0-0 Vicenza
Vicenza wasted the opportunity to take the leadership after a second draw on the trot. It was an uneventful encounter, with Fatic having the best chance by thumping the woodwork directly from the corner flag and Volta's second bookable offence late on.

Piacenza 1-1 Parma
Parma's run of three straight wins ground to a halt at the Garilli, where only a late header from Pisanu prevented defeat. Alessandro Lucarelli’s handling offence should have given Piacenza a penalty before the break and the same player was almost decisive at the other end when his header hit the bar. Piace took control as Rickler nodded in, but just when the result seemed secure Parma snatched a point through Pisanu. There was still time for the Gialloblu to go close to winning it, but Cassano got his hands to a Cristiano Lucarelli strike.

Avellino 0-0 Sassuolo
Sassuolo could have been back on top following the shock defeats for Empoli and Grosseto, but at least manage to close the gap after three defeats on the bounce. Avellino had the better of the overall play, but it was Zampagna who created the best scoring opportunity for the visitors in the second half.

Treviso 1-1 Albinoleffe
Treviso continue to prop up the standings, but Albinoleffe close the gap on the leaders to just three points. The visitors took just three minutes to take control through Laner's tap-in and Zaninelli nodded in the equaliser. Moments later Narciso brought down D'Aversa for a penalty that Musetti ballooned over the bar for Treviso. Even after Gabionetta's second yellow card left Leffe with 10 men, the home side still could not make the most of the situation.

Triestina 2-2 Frosinone
Triestina completed an impressive comeback from 2-0 down despite missing a penalty, but at the end 10-man Frosinone had to hang on for a point. It was a dismal first half for the home side, as Biso acrobatically redirected Eder's cross into the net and Antonazzo tapped in from close range. They wasted no time fighting back after the restart, as Testini was brought down by Antonazzo and Frattali parried the penalty, but Tabbiani got the goal from the loose ball. Antonelli smashed a shot against the bar but, after Biso's dismissal, Ardemagni completed the comeback with his debut Serie B goal.

Modena 3-3 Cittadella
This hugely entertaining relegation dogfight was certainly not short on drama. Cittadella took a surprise commanding lead in the opening 18 minutes at the Braglia through Ganci and hitman Meggiorini. Modena staged a remarkable comeback through Gasparetto pouncing on goalkeeper Zotti’s error, a Bruno penalty for Gorini’s challenge on Biabiany and Gemiti again humiliating the shot-stopper with his free kick. It all seemed like a dream for the home fans, but it all went wrong in the closing minutes. Perna saw red and, when Gemiti brought down Meggiorini for Iori’s last-gasp penalty, Longo was also sent off for dissent. This goal leaves Modena propping up the table.

Monday 3 November
Livorno 2-0 Brescia
It was a fundamental match for both sides and Livorno approached it with the better attitude. The Amaranto took control of the game straight after the kick off and could have scored in less than 60 seconds with Bergvold. Rossini was stopped by a superb Viviano at the third minute but it was Francesco Tavano who scored the opener with an easy touch from inside the box. While the visitors were expected to step up their game in the second half it was once again Livorno who found the net with a terrific free-kick from Loviso. The latter saw red for a bad tackle shortly after but the locals kept possession and managed to control Brescia until the final whistle.

Ascoli 1-1 Rimini
Cioffi's last minute tap in rescued Ascoli from certain defeat in this tight encounter. Rimini down to 10 men, managed to find the lead in the first half but couldn't keep it. Ascoli went close three times in the early stages but were held by a super Pugliesi. The Biancorossi were more clinical and found the net with Cipriani when a long pass from Ricchiuti was lobbed past Taibi by the former Bologna striker. Sottil saw red at half time for a controversy with Soncin and Ascoli went all out attacking with the striker hitting the bar. Vantaggio could have doubled the lead for Rimini on a counter attack but then the Bianconeri centre-back scored the equaliser with a tap in from short distance.

Source: C4 Football Italia