Serie B - Week 5: Weekend Review

Friday 18 September
Salernitana 0-3 Torino
Torino top the Serie B table after this Friday night triumph, but Salernitana could take drastic measures as they are still without a single point. Former Stadio Arechi hero David Di Michele was inspirational, creating the first goal when he dribbled past Ciro Polito and narrowed the angle too much, flicking it back to Stefano Diana. Matteo Sereni needed two fine saves to deny Francesco Caputo and Francesco Montervino an equaliser, but the second half was one-way traffic. Alessandro Bastrini's goalline clearance kept out Diana before Di Michele netted with a solo effort. Andrea Gasbarroni hit the woodwork and Rolando Bianchi consolidated his Capocannoniere status.


Ascoli 2-0 Brescia
Mirko Antenucci was the hero for the home side with a brace that sent leaders Brescia tumbling. Within the opening quarter of an hour the points were sealed up. Ascoli broke through 120 seconds in with Antenucci's right-foot shot from the edge of the box, then he got on the end of a free kick. It would've been 3-0 had Michele Arcari not saved Arturo Lupoli's penalty in the second half, but the fact remains Ascoli leapfrog the Rondinelle in the table.

Saturday 19 September
Empoli 2-0 Frosinone
Leaders Frosinone crumbled at the Stadio Castellani and slipped down to third place. Empoli needed a confidence boost after their recent defeat at Ancona, so they came flying out of the blocks with Francesco Marianini turning in Claudio Coralli's assist. The provider turned scorer soon after thanks to an Eder dummy on Angelo Antonazzo's through ball. The Tuscans had more chances throughout the match, dooming Frosinone to their first defeat of the campaign.

Cesena 4-1 Triestina
Cesena thumped Triestina to go joint third, a crucial result as these two sides were level pegging going into the game. By the ninth minute both teams were already on target with Guilherme Do Prado knocking it down for Davide Sinigaglia and Emiliano Testini's header for the visitors. Giuseppe De Feudis fired in from the edge of the box, Do Prado netted with a blockbuster from distance and Ezequiel Schelotto completed the rout with a right-foot curler.

Padova 2-1 Ancona
Ancona's run of three consecutive wins comes to an end in an entertaining game. Andrea Soncin broke the deadlock eight minutes in by getting on the end of a Antonio Di Nardo low cross from the right. Roberto Colacone's angled drive drew level, but Di Nardo got the winner moments later when combining with Francesco Renzetti. Andrea Rabito forced a fine save and Di Nardo hit the woodwork for Padova in the second half.

Sassuolo 1-1 Mantova
The points were divided between the two teams and the result was overall fair. Daniele Martinetti acrobatically volleyed in a Marco Gorzegno cross to the back post to give Sassuolo the lead, but with 17 minutes left on the clock Maurizio Nassi bagged his third goal of the season.

Reggina 1-1 Cittadella
Reggina simply can't get into gear so far this season and are falling further off the promotion pace. Daniele Capelli had given them the lead when redirecting Emiliano Bonazzoli's wayward header with his chest from point-blank range. Cittadella fought back and eventually grabbed their point through Emanuele Pesoli nodding in a free kick.

Grosseto 3-1 Modena
Modena were without star striker Salvatore Bruno and it showed, also losing Alex Pinardi early on to injury. Marco Turati made it 2-0 for Grosseto before half-time when he twice made the most of Filippo Carobbio assists. Inacio Joelson also hit the woodwork before he was brought down for Mauricio Pinilla's penalty. Late on Kewullay Conteh hauled down Michele Troiano for Carlo Luisi to convert little more than a consolation spot-kick before this visitors had Domenico Giampa sent off.

Vicenza 2-2 Gallipoli
Vicenza bravely completed a comeback from 2-0 down despite playing with 10 men for an hour. Towards the middle of the first half two events put Gallipoli on the apparent road to success, as Christian Sosa nodded in David Mounard's corner and Michelangelo Minieri saw red for a second bookable offence. Francesco Di Gennaro thought he'd sealed it with a left-foot drive, but he didn't count on Gabriele Paonessa. The youngster first blasted in a rocket of a free kick from 35 metres, then created the equaliser for Davide Brivio on the counter.

Albinoleffe 0-1 Piacenza
Albinoleffe fell to a disappointing home defeat, although Piacenza did not actually have to get on the scoresheet. Francesco Rupolo accidentally nodded a free kick into his own net 25 minutes in and his team never recovered, even though Stefano Avogadri saw red late on.

Lecce 0-0 Crotone
Lecce continue to disappoint and failed to get past a stalemate with Crotone. It could have easily been worse, as the visitors had the best chances when they hit the woodwork twice with a deflected Denilson Gabionetta effort from a corner and Antonino Bonvissuto's angled drive. Crotone ended the match with 10 men, as Bonvissuto saw red for sarcastically applauding the referee.

Source: Football-Italia