Serie B - Week 11: Weekend Review

Friday 23 October
Torino 2-0 Reggina
Torino compounded Reggina's crisis with a 2-0 victory on Friday night that could see Walter Novellino sacked. The Amaranto suffered their third consecutive defeat and have failed to score since September 28. Luca Belingheri broke through with an angled drive just shy of the break, then former Reggina star Rolando Bianchi scored with a spectacular volley on the turn from a corner. It was his ninth goal of the campaign and consolidates his Capocannoniere status.


Saturday 24 October
Ancona 3-1 Frosinone
Ancona got the result in this head-to-head and are now two points behind the Serie B leaders with a game in hand. Juan Surraco got them off to a great start when he combined with Roberto Colacone, though Fabio Mazzeo drew Frosinone level from a corner. However, three minutes later Matias Miramontes had restored the advantage with another header. Ancona always seemed in control, even more so when Robert Gucher and Alfredo Cariello saw red, so Andrea De Falco rounded out the scoreline in stoppages.

Cesena 2-2 Grosseto
Cesena were twice caught up and miss the opportunity to go top of the table. Guilherme Do Prado couldn't have asked for a better start when he netted 49 seconds in, though it was wiped out by Filippo Carobbio's stunning left-foot volley. On the stroke of half-time the home side went so close to another, but a combination of Paolo Acerbis and Nicola Mora's goalline clearance denied Massimo Volta. Once again straight after the restart - this time 21 seconds - Cesena scored through Ezequiel Schelotto only for Grosseto to fight right back with Marco D'Alessandro's header.

Empoli 4-2 Ascoli
Empoli pipped a six-goal thriller after Ascoli's spirited second half fightback in a game with four penalties. Ighli Vannucchi's long-range snapshot broke through and the visitors had the chance to equalise when Marco Bernacci was brought down, but his spot-kick was saved by Davide Bassi. Citadin Eder was more accurate to extend Empoli's advantage, though Bernacci did get on the scoresheet with a shot that may or may not have completely crossed the line. Eder converted a second penalty, though Ascoli did not give in and Mirko Antenucci converted yet another spot-kick.

Gallipoli 0-3 Lecce
Lecce won the first ever local derby between these clubs in Serie B. The week had gone well until now for Gallipoli, who won their appeal against a one-point penalty, but they were thumped in front of their own fans. Daniele Corvia's close-range header opened the scoring before Under-21 international Guido Marilungo bagged a brace. Allan Baclet had the chance to add to Lecce's tally, but Matias Garavano saved his penalty.

Brescia 4-1 Albinoleffe
Andrea Caracciolo's hat-trick ended a dismal run of three straight defeats for Beppe Iachini's first win on the Brescia bench. It didn't start well, as Francesco Ruopolo had given Albinoleffe the lead unmarked on Andrea Cristiano's cross, though David Baiocco tapped in a Libor Kozak free kick to equalise. Caracciolo came off the bench for the second half and the game changed. First he earned and converted a penalty, then his daisy-cutter and meeting Andrea Rispoli's assist completed the hat-trick. This result ended Emiliano Mondonico's unbeaten run at 'Leffe.

Sassuolo 1-0 Cittadella
Sassuolo needed only one chance to secure the points, as Luigi Riccio's effort was charged down and Riccardo Zampagna pounced on the rebound.

Padova 0-0 Triestina
Padova will feel they deserved more from this match, but failed to get the goal they needed. Edgar Cani and Emiliano Testini went close, but Claudio Cuffa had the best chances. His header was denied by a goalline clearance and in the second half a strike disallowed for Andrea Soncin's active offside position.

Piacenza 2-3 Modena
Modena fought back from a goal down to win this entertaining five-goal derby. Michele Anaclerio's diving header had put Piacenza in front, but Michele Troiano and Roberto Cortellini strikes from distance turned it around before half-time. Troiano completed his brace by converting a penalty when Domenico Girardi was brought down. Piacenza made it a tense finale with Davide Moscardelli from the spot.

Salernitana 4-1 Crotone
This was a fiery and ill-tempered relegation dogfight with two dismissals in the first 11 minutes. Mariano Stendardo had already put Salernitana in front with a header when teammate Georgios Kyriazis was sent off for his part in a brawl that erupted after the goal. Antonino Bonvissuto reduced Crotone to 10 men as well with a remarkable two bookings and Salernitana took control. Francesco Cozza bagged a brace with two right-foot efforts and Manolo Pestrin's angled drive completed the rout. Antonio Zito got a consolation goal at the death.

Monday 26 October
Vicenza 1-1 Mantova
Mantova needed a 90th minute equaliser from veteran striker Tomas Locatelli in order to salvage a point from their trip at Vicenza. The draw is enough to help Mantova crawl up a place to 22nd in the table. Vicenza had been looking set to celebrate their first home win of the season thanks to a strike from Davide Gavazzi just before the hour mark.

Source: Football-Italia