Livorno will need something spectacular to reach the Serie B play-off final after a 2-0 defeat at Tuscan rivals Grosseto in the first leg of their semi-final.Sadly there was some crowd trouble before kick-off, as sections of the visiting fans vandalised a bar near the stadium and then managed to tear off a dividing panel inside the arena, throwing it towards the home fans.
On the pitch Grosseto, who only booked a play off spot on the final day of the season by finishing sixth, dominated from the start at the Stadio Zecchini.
Despite plenty of chances for the home side, they only broke the deadlock on 68 minutes when Gianluca Freddi nodded in a corner to give the Grifone the advantage.
After sitting back for much of the game, Livorno began to pour forward in the final stages and got close to an equaliser when a Leonardo Miglionico shot was cleared off the line by Giuseppe Abruzzese.
However, with four minutes remaining on the clock, they conceded what could prove to be a costly second. Like the opening goal, an unmarked Abruzzese headed in from a corner which gives Grosseto a commanding first leg advantage.
The result means third-placed Livorno, who replaced Leonardo Acori with assistant manager Gennaro Ruotolo recently, must win the return match at the Stadio Picchi on Thursday to reach the final.
In the day's other semi-final first leg tie, Empoli were held to a 1-1 draw by Brescia.
In the event that a semi-final tie ends in an aggregate draw, the winner will be the highest positioned team in the league. There is no away-goals rule, extra-time or penalties.
PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINALS:
[Empoli 1-1 Brescia] - [Grosseto 2-0 Livorno] - [Livorno 4-1 Grosseto] - [Brescia 3-0 Empoli]
Source: C4 Football Italia
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