Serie B - Week 10: Weekend Review

Friday 16 October
Lecce 1-0 Salernitana
Daniele Corvia's cracking goal proved the difference at the Stadio Via del Mare, as Lecce doomed Salernitana to an eighth defeat in 10 games. The decisive goal arrived 21 minutes in when Corvia brilliantly volleyed Mariano Angelo's cross from the right. Corvia nodded a potential second just wide, while the visitors tried to fight back with a save on Dino Fava's angled drive and Francesco Caputo wasting a golden opportunity. Lecce had to end the game with nine men, as after all their substitutions Antonio Mazzotta and Guido Marilungo sustained injuries, but Salernitana still couldn't level the scores.


Saturday 17 October
Modena 0-3 Frosinone
Frosinone continue to break away at the top of the table in a result that is not to be under-estimated, as Modena were fresh from giant-killing sprees against Reggina and Torino. Alfredo Cariello broke the deadlock on a counter and the Canarini were unlucky to see Salvatore Bruno's equaliser incorrectly ruled offside and a Michele Troiano crossbar. Gennaro Troianiello doubled the advantage and late on Vincenzo Santoruvo secured the points with a bizarre goal, as his shot came off the upright and deflected in off Armando Perna.

Ascoli 1-2 Torino
Torino ended their crisis with a crucial victory away to Ascoli, sealed by Rolando Bianchi's eighth goal of the season. Luca Belingheri opened the scoring against his former club just shy of half-time, as Bianchi knocked down Matteo Rubin's cross for his finish. Arturo Lupoli had penalty appeals waved away and Bianchi's weak chip was straight at the goalkeeper before Angelo Ogbonna brought down Jonas Portin for Marco Bernacci's penalty. Bianchi was the hero for Toro, but it was more like Giorgio Frezzolini was Ascoli's villain, as the shot-stopper's howler on Vittorio Micolucci's backpass allowed 'Rolandinho' to tap into an empty net.

Cesena 2-0 Brescia
Brescia fall further off the pace of the leaders as Cesena extend their unbeaten run to nine rounds. Marco Parolo struck almost from the kick-off at the end of a well-worked team move, as Guilherme Do Prado dribbled past three players and intelligently pulled back for his teammate. Do Prado was again involved in the second, his corner flicked on for Massimo Volta's header at the back post. Brescia's best chance was in the second half, but Francesco Bega deflected a Walter Lopez corner on to the crossbar.

Reggina 0-3 Ancona
Reggina are in serious trouble after this humiliating home defeat and coach Walter Novellino can hear the axe sharpening. It was one-way traffic in the first-half as Antonio Busce' brought down Matias Miramontes for a Salvatore Mastronunzio spot-kick, then Miramontes took matters into his own hands with a spectacular screamer from distance. It could've been more had Juan Surraco, Miramontes and Andrea De Falco taken their chances. Reggina tried to react after the break with Daniele Cacia and Busce' efforts saved, but Ancona were in control and Roberto Colacone sealed the scoreline on the counter.

Grosseto 2-2 Padova
Padova completed a spectacular comeback from 2-0 down to stop Grosseto catching the top teams. Thomas Job was brought down for Thomas Pichlmann's penalty and six minutes later Ferdinando Vitofrancesco's shot was parried into the path of Marco Turati. Padova wasted their first chance to get back into the game when Andrea Rabito's penalty was saved by Paolo Acerbis. However, the visitors did not lose hope and fought their way to 2-2 thanks to one of Vincenzo Italiano's trademark blockbusters and a Andrea Soncin strike from the edge of the box.

Cittadella 1-1 Piacenza
The spoils were shared in a game with a dramatic final 10 minutes. Before that Christian Puggioni had grabbed the headlines by parrying Antimo Iunco's penalty, but soon after Davide Moscardelli's opener, Matteo Ardemagni earned and converted another spot-kick. He didn't celebrate for long, as the Cittadella scorer was sent off two minutes later.

Crotone 1-2 Vicenza
Vicenza continued their fine form with an away victory at struggling Crotone. Alessandro Sgrigna pounced on a defensive error to give the visitors the lead and that goal lasted until the 77th minute, when Edoardo Braiati accidentally nodded a cross into his own net. Stefano Botta snatched a late winner, redirecting the ball after Sgrigna had hit the woodwork.

Mantova 1-1 Empoli
Empoli miss an opportunity to close in on the leaders, but had to fight back for the point at the Stadio Martelli. Both sides hit the crossbar in the first half with Emiliano Tarana's strike and a Luca Saudati header. Mantova took the lead through Simone Salviato's finish from a corner, but soon after Saudati's attempt came off the upright and into the path of Claudio Coralli.

Triestina 1-0 Gallipoli
Francesco Volpe's controversial goal in first half stoppages proved the difference, as he appeared to be in an offside position when he beat the Gallipoli goalkeeper one-on-one.

Monday 19 October
Albinoleffe 0-0 Sassuolo
Albinoleffe were held by Sassuolo at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia but the locals missed a penalty with Marco Cellini and will be left to regret their missed chances. The visitors didn't do much in the first half as the home side were trying to gain the lead and Cellini and Paolo Grossi failed to make the most of their chances. In the second half Albinoleffe were awarded a penalty but Cellini hit the post from the spot. Sassuolo could have punished them minutes later but Mauro Minelli's effort was deflected wide. Then in injury time Minelli's header went inches over the crossbar.

Source: Football-Italia