Serie B - Week 36: Weekend Review

Friday 17 April
Triestina 2-3 Grosseto
Grosseto fought back to grab a thrilling 3-2 win away to Triestina in this head-to-head for play-off places. The home side got off to a strong start and after Della Rocca volleyed a golden opportunity over the bar, the young striker made up for it by rising for a looping header on Testini's cross. Testini created several more chances, but Sansovini equalised against the run of play in first half stoppages with a right-foot strike under the bar. After the break Pellicori and Della Rocca forced desperate saves out of the goalkeepers, but Pellicori allowed Grosseto to turn the game around with another header. It was chaos in the final minutes, as Allegretti drew Triestina level with a free kick only for Bonanni to knock down for Pichlmann 60 seconds later.


Ascoli 2-1 Frosinone
Frosinone gave on-form Ascoli quite a scare at the Stadio Del Duca, but the Bianconeri clung on to maintain their play-off hopes. The visitors took a shock lead after 22 minutes against the run of play, as Cariello threaded through for Tavares to strike. Soncin fought back a little while later when Sicignano parried the ball into his path. Sicignano beat away another screamer from Sommese and was eventually beaten by a splendid Cani lob. However, Frosinone wouldn’t give in and Bocchetti was denied by a goalline clearance.

Saturday 18 April
Livorno 2-2 Parma
Parma twice fought back to grab a point at Livorno in this promotion head-to-head that leaves the Gialloblu with the advantage. De Lucia parried Vantaggiato's strike in the opening minute, but it was the home side that took the lead when Zenoni was harshly judged to have brought down Bonetto, allowing Tavano to convert. Twice De Lucia denied Mariga and in the second half Tavano hit the bar with a right-foot effort from the edge of the box. Parma boss Francesco Guidolin was sent off for dissent after claiming Rosi deserved a straight red for his foul on Castellini. Alessandro Lucarelli rose to nod in Leon's cross against his hometown club. Danilevicius came off the bench to restore Livorno's lead 30 seconds later with his header from a corner, but Paloschi sealed the draw when Castellini's shot came off the upright.

Bari 3-0 Rimini
Bari extend their lead at the top of the table to three points thanks to the stalemate between chasing pack Livorno and Parma. The Galletti had several chances to open the scoring before Kutuzov's diving header from a corner on 32 minutes. Agliardi did what he could to deny Barreto and Kamata, but Guberti's splendid strike with the outside of his right foot beat the goalkeeper on the bounce. Caputo wasted a golden opportunity to make it 3-0, then Donda spotted Agliardi off his line and delicately lobbed a third.

Vicenza 1-2 Brescia
Brescia picked up an important away victory to close in on Parma and Livorno. Vicenza had a decent enough start with chances for Sgrigna and Forestieri, but Caracciolo held up the ball for Rispoli to open the scoring. Seven minutes later Gorzegno had made it 2-0 by nodding in a corner. The Rondinelle held out, although Bjelanovic got one back in the second half by tapping in from close range. Caracciolo could've scored a third, but fired straight at Fortin.

Modena 2-0 Sassuolo
Modena made mincemeat of Sassuolo, who appear to have completely lost their way in the play-off race, in this local derby. Biabiany caused panic in the box during the opening minutes before Fantini was left completely unmarked to open the scoring. Biabiany finally got his goal by springing the offside trap and Sassuolo's only real chance was a Zampagna volley over.

Salernitana 4-2 Albinoleffe
This six-goal thriller was effectively decided after Albinoleffe went down to 10 men in the second half. Iunco had given Salernitana the lead almost immediately by waltzing round the goalkeeper, then went off injured. Cellini sprung the offside trap to equalise and seven minutes later Ganci nutmegged Narciso. The game changed when Narciso saw red for bringing down Ganci, but substitute goalkeeper Coser's first touch was saving Scarpa's spot-kick! 10-man Leffe equalised again through Ruopolo's header, but the numerical advantage made the difference in the final stages, as Ledesma and Merino sealed victory. Merino's goal was an absolute gem, similar to Giuseppe Mascara's midfield lob from the centre circle for Catania.

Empoli 2-1 Treviso
Empoli may well have doomed Treviso to relegation, but maintained their own play-off ambitions. Corvia met Busce's cross for a header in the opening five minutes and Quadrini wasted the chance to equalise. Flachi's goal was his first since the ban for failing a doping test, last netting on December 10 2006. Vargas' handling offence gave Quadrini a consolation penalty.

Mantova 2-2 Ancona
Ancona fought back from 2-0 down to snatch a last-gasp equaliser away from home. Mantova thought they had it sealed up after 13 minutes when Caridi had bagged a brace by pouncing on a defensive error and netting an angled drive. Turati's goal on the hour mark seemed like nothing but mere consolation until substitute Colacone completed the comeback.

Cittadella 1-0 Pisa
Pisa are in freefall after a fourth consecutive defeat. Iori was the usual hero for Cittadella, converting his seventh penalty of the season, and this victory allows his team to catch Pisa in the standings on 42 points.

Avellino 1-1 Piacenza
The point did little to satisfy either squad and the goals came either side of half-time. Mesbah got his head to Pepe's cross and straight after the restart Piacenza equalised thanks to a Nainggolan angled drive.

Source: C4 Football Italia