Serie B - Week 23: Weekend Review

Friday 22 January
Empoli 0-0 Torino
Torino's revival under Stefano Colantuono continued with a precious point considering they were a man down for almost 40 minutes. Empoli remain unbeaten on home turf and are a formidable opponent here at the best of times, so expected to take advantage of the situation. In the first half Pia and Bianchi had gone close for the visitors, while Angella had a goal controversially disallowed for a push. Torino saw Gorobsov receive a second yellow card after 52 minutes, but still managed to hang on for the point at the Castellani with a squad bolstered by January signings.


Saturday 23 January
Sassuolo 2-1 Vicenza
Sassuolo leapfrog Ancona in the standings with this hard-fought victory decided in the second half. Sgrigna had threatened to put Vicenza in front when his volley cracked the underside of the crossbar, but the home side woke up with Noselli's delightful lob. Martinetti nodded in Bianco's cross, so when Sgrigna did convert a penalty, it was too late.

Cesena 0-0 Gallipoli
Cesena had the opportunity to go top on their own awaiting Lecce's Monday night fixture, but could not break down Gallipoli. Goalkeeper Sciarrone kept out the only real two scoring opportunities with saves to deny Giaccherini and Parolo.

Salernitana 3-0 Ancona
Ancona had hoped to close the gap on leaders Lecce, but instead were thumped by the bottom of the table club. It all happened in the second half, as the tension spilled out into a brawl between Montervino and Miramontes. Salernitana broke through just shy of the hour mark when Milani’s foul allowed Merino to convert a penalty. January signing Dionisi came off the bench and made a stunning debut, as within three minutes he had drilled a left-foot shot from distance into the bottom corner, then scored with his right foot from 10 yards.

Grosseto 3-1 Triestina
Grosseto's comfortable victory consolidated fifth place and closed the gap on the automatic promotion spots. Pinilla was the centre of attention, as first he knocked down Carobbio's corner kick for a Freddi header, then bagged a brace with a counter and penalty he had earned for Princivalli's foul. Pinilla also saw his header denied by a goalline clearance. Triestina got a consolation goal in stoppages when Pasquato's effort came off the upright and into the path of Audel.

Brescia 3-0 Crotone
Caracciolo scored a hat-trick in the final 12 minutes, but undoubtedly Brescia were aided by playing against a Crotone side that ended the match with eight men. The visitors had the best early opportunities with a save on Galardo, but even after De Martino's dismissal, it took a penalty (and another red card for Galeoto) to break through. Caracciolo scored a second from 10 yards, then converted another spot-kick for Morleo's last-man foul.

Mantova 3-1 Frosinone
Many teams in the play-off race made a step up this weekend, but Frosinone fell behind after this defeat to a side in the relegation zone. Mantova were more aggressive from the start and Caridi crossed for an unmarked Nassi's volley to open the scoring. After the break Caridi earned and converted a penalty through Semenzato's foul and, although Santoruvo's header got Frosinone back into it, Nicco secured the 3-1 scoreline late on with his debut Serie B goal.

Albinoleffe 2-0 Cittadella
Albinoleffe got the rub of the green in a fairly static encounter at the Stadio Azzurri d'Italia. Cellini converted a soft penalty earned by Perico on the stroke of half-time, while in stoppages Cisse put the result under lock and key with a right-foot rising strike from the edge of the box.

Padova 0-1 Reggina
Reggina earned a crucial victory away from home to take them away from the danger zone, but it puts Padova boss Sabatini under pressure. The goal came after 28 minutes when Lanzaro's free kick was touched on by Cesar, acting as an accidental assist for Pagano to fire in. Padova poured forward in the second half, but it was the visitors who had the best chances when Costa thumped the crossbar.

Ascoli 2-0 Modena
Ascoli notched up their fifth consecutive victory, but left it very late indeed to break through a solid Modena. Bruno, Sommese and Luci had chances before a flurry of activity in the final minutes. The turning point came when Catellani reacted angrily to a Luci tackle and was sent off. Just 60 seconds later Antenucci shrugged off his marker to fire in the right-foot finish and then he was brought down by Gozzi for Bernacci's chipped penalty.

Monday 25 January
Lecce 1-0 Piacenza
An eighth minute goal from Mesbah secured a 1-0 victory for the leaders against Piacenza. Converting a cross from Belleri with a header, Mesbah's goal gave the Salenti a lead they doggedly hung on to. Despite spirited play in both halves Piacenza were unable to get past Rosati and the win gave Luigi De Canio's side breathing space at the top of the table, pulling them away from chasers Cesena and Sassuolo.

Source: Football-Italia