Serie B - Week 21: Weekend Review

Friday 16 January
Livorno 1-0 Ascoli
Rossini’s strike crowned Livorno Winter Champions of Serie B and ended an Ascoli run of three consecutive victories. A defensive error almost gave Sommese an opener in the first four minutes, while fine saves denied Pulzetti, Soncin and especially Tavano from point-blank range. Ascoli went down to 10 men after 38 minutes when Giallombardo brought down Tavano as last man, but it took until the hour mark for the Tuscans to take advantage.Rossini had been on the field for five minutes when he nodded in Diamanti's cross. Goalkeeper Guarana kept the scoreline down with interventions on Tavano and Diamanti.


Saturday 17 January
Brescia 4-0 Pisa
Brescia are back with a bang and made short work of Pisa. Zoboli was the unlikely hero, netting the opener from Barone's cross and turning in a corner kick for his second. Pisa were trying to get back into the game, but Trevisan's dismissal made the difference. Savio Nsereko, the 19-year-old West Ham transfer target, bagged a brace in quick succession.

Treviso 0-2 Bari
Bari benefited from two own goals, but fully deserved this victory to maintain second place. Pianu accidentally nodded a dangerous cross into his own net, while Lanzafame's second was ruled offside. Barreto went on a classic slalom through the defenders only to thump the upright. Musetti had the best chance to get Treviso back on level terms, but late on Mezzano completed the own goal rout.

Parma 1-1 Sassuolo
The local derby was also a head-to-head battle for the top of the table and it was decided in dramatic circumstances. Sassuolo star Salvetti was only denied an opener after three minutes by Zenoni's goalline clearance, while Reginaldo and Cristiano Lucarelli wasted a couple of chances. On the hour mark Masucci's handling offence allowed Lucarelli to convert a penalty, but Parma were reduced to 10 men soon after when brother Alessandro Lucarelli brought down Masucci clear on goal. Sassuolo pushed all the way and in stoppages snatched a point thanks to substitute Erpen's left-foot screamer.

Empoli 1-1 Avellino
Empoli wasted yet another opportunity to close the gap on the leaders and were caught out by an Avellino outfit still reacting strongly to their four-point penalty. Sforzini had put the minnows in front, but within three minutes club top scorer Lodi had turned in Saudati's assist. Saudati could have won it, but fired over from point-blank range.

Rimini 1-0 Cittadella
Rimini brought down solid Cittadella, who were unable to recover from an early Ricchiuti goal. Vantaggiato set up the strike just before he completes his move to Parma, but the visitors nearly grabbed an equaliser when De Gasperi's header thumped the post.

Ancona 1-0 Albinoleffe
Ancona pipped Leffe to the points in this controversial meeting. Nassi made the most of an inspired Mastronunzio assist, but Sau thought he had equalised when his goal was mysteriously disallowed.

Salernitana 2-1 Mantova
Di Napoli made a decisive comeback from injury to pick up struggling Salernitana, but Mantova shot themselves in the foot with two red cards. Di Napoli made the most of a Handanovic error and Scarpa doubled the lead just before half-time. Mantova are in dire straits and Locatelli lost his cool after he was booked for simulation, taking his protests too far. Corona got 10-man Mantova back into it late on, but Caridi also saw red.

Piacenza 1-0 Vicenza
Guzman's late strike ended Vicenza's positive streak and gave Piacenza a much-needed boost. His left-foot blazer ricocheted in off the underside of the crossbar and proved enough to get the victory, as Botta wasted a couple of costly scoring opportunities.

Modena 0-0 Triestina
The match between Sassuolo and Brescia was rained off here last week and the pitch was still in dismal condition. There were few real scoring opportunities in the circumstances, Bruno going closest for Modena with a late scissor-kick off target.

Monday 19 January
Frosinone 2-0 Grosseto
Grosseto's slide continues after a 2-0 defeat away to mid-table Frosinone at the Stadio Matusa. Frosinone went ahead after 10 minutes when Polito didn't cut out an Eder cross and Cavalli touched it home despite appeals for offside. Substitute Di Roberto put the game safe when he scored within three minutes of coming on.

Source: C4 Football Italia