Serie B - Week 35: Midweek Review

Tuesday 21 April
Ancona 0-3 Bari
Bari continue their march on Serie A with a second consecutive 3-0 result. There were no doubts over the Man of the Match, as Barreto bagged a first half hat-trick to annihilate Ancona. First he pounced on a deflected Donda cross that had stranded the goalkeeper, then he finalised a counter-attack with a chest and left-foot strike set up by Kutuzov. Just before the break he earned a penalty for Comazzi's foul and converted it, although there are some doubts as to whether contact was inside the box or not. Rizzato had the best chances for Ancona, but the game really never got started.


Parma 2-0 Ascoli
Parma pick up the promotion pace again with a confidence-building win at the Tardini against one of the form sides in Serie B at the moment. Ascoli had won three on the trot and were unbeaten since March 7, but after a bright start with Soncin’s header just over, the Ducali took control. Morrone thumped a poor Castellini clearance in on the half-volley and after Mariga and Soncin had gone close, Paloschi turned in a corner kick to double Parma’s lead with his third goal in as many games. However, Pavarini needed good saves late on to deny Luisi and Masini.

Treviso 0-4 Livorno
Livorno took full advantage of two red cards to demolish bottom of the table Treviso, ending a two-month drought of victories. Antonio Filippini got the party started with a right-foot screamer and it became even easier once Guigou lost his temper in quite spectacular fashion. Loviso was booked for the foul as he dragged down Guigou, but the Treviso man responded by kicking out. Galante doubled their lead from a corner, but 10-man Treviso still had chances with Quadrini and Baccin. It all crumbled again on 70 minutes, as Tavano netted a third and moments later goalkeeper Cordaz was sent off for handling outside the box. Tavano completed his bace from Bonetto’s cross.

Brescia 3-0 Avellino
Brescia got the three points, but had to wait until the final 12 minutes to break down second-from-bottom Avellino. The goalkeepers had to parry efforts from Aubameyang and Caracciolo before Gorzegno found a way through with his rocket from the edge of the box that smacked under the bar. The Rondinelle were galvanised and went on to consolidate the win with Taddei’s deflected cross-shot beating Padelli and a Caracciolo spot-kick for Castelli’s foul on Possanzini.

Sassuolo 2-1 Piacenza
Sassuolo fought back to pick up the pieces of their play-off campaign thanks to Noselli’s spectacular brace. Nainggolan had shocked the Braglia crowd in the local derby with an early goal for Piacenza, although the rest of the half was all for the home side. Zampagna wasted several chances, including a free kick that hit the upright, before Noselli smashed in a right-foot equaliser. Noselli also thumped the woodwork when one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but made up for it with a stunner. He cut in from the right flank and curled a left-foot strike into the far top corner.

Grosseto 2-2 Empoli
This promotion play-off duel and local derby was quite a battle, but Grosseto will be kicking themselves after handing the point to their rivals. Flachi had given Empoli the lead on the stroke of half-time with his second goal in as many games, left unmarked to fire in from the penalty spot, while goalkeeper Polito performed heroics to deny both Saudati and Flachi a second. The home side succeeded in turning it around through Federici’s header on a corner and Pichlmann’s strike. However, deep into stoppages Federici accidentally passed it straight to Pozzi, who couldn’t help but tap in from close range.

Albinoleffe 2-0 Cittadella
Albinoleffe made short work of Cittadella to stay in the play-off hunt and the home fans were gifted a fabulous Ruopolo goal. Cellini opened the scoring with a daisy-cutter from the edge of the box, but Ruopolo excelled when he slalomed past two defenders and hit a snooker-shot into the bottom corner. Previtali hit the back of the net for a third time, but was ruled offside.

Vicenza 1-0 Triestina
Vicenza picked up a surprise win to clamber out of the danger zone, but dent Triestina’s play-off ambitions with a second straight defeat. Morosini and Granoche had gone close for either side before Raimondi decided the match just shy of half-time. His daisy-cutter from distance came off the inside of the far upright to strand Agazzi. Triestina poured forward, allowing Bjelanovic to waste several counter-attacks for the Biancorossi. Ardemagni had the best chance to equalise in stoppages, but nodded Allegretti’s free kick over from six yards. It's a bitter blow for Triestina, who also lost 3-2 at home to Grosseto at the weekend.

Frosinone 1-0 Modena
Eder’s right-foot free kick that flew into the bottom corner proved enough to bring home all three points for Frosinone. The result could be decisive in the battle to avoid relegation, as Modena remain rooted in the bottom three.

Pisa 1-1 Mantova
New Coach Bruno Giordano picked up a point on his Pisa debut, which was already a boost considering his predecessor was fired after four straight defeats. He got off to a strong start with Degano thumping the upright just 120 seconds into the match. Bonucci broke through from a corner kick at the second attempt, at first denied by Grauso’s goalline clearance. Mantova fought back and after Marchesetti pounced on a woeful Viviani clearance to equalise, Sedivec also hit the frame of the goal. In stoppages only a Cristante goalline clearance denied Pisa the victory.

Rimini 2-0 Salernitana
Rimini picked themselves up with a morale-boosting win in this relegation dogfight. The two teams were level on 40 points going in, so everything was in the balance before Cipriani got on the end of a free kick. Di Napoli wasted a great chance to equalise when he had gone round Agliardi only to hesitated and allow Rinaldi a goalline clearance. Fava’s header also threatened, but in stoppages Pagano secured the spoils on the counter set up by Ricchiuti.

Source: C4 Football Italia