Saturday 1 September 2007

Serie B Week 2: Review

Friday 31 August
Grosseto 0-1 Brescia
Brescia continued their winning start to the season with a last-gasp victory at new boys Grosseto. Possanzini really should have opened the scoring when he was sent clear, but fired straight at the goalkeeper. Mannini popped up with the decisive goal from a Taddei corner kick in stoppages, when the home side thought they had snatched a point off Serse Cosmi’s prestigious club. To add insult to injury, Moro was dismissed for a tackle from behind on Tacchinardi.

Saturday 1 September
Avellino 0-1 Mantova
Mantova got their first win of the season after a disappointing opening draw, but new boys Avellino are still looking to get off the mark. The Biancoverdi played relatively well in an empty stadium that has not yet passed safety checks, but after Sestu wasted a golden opportunity, Corona pounced on a loose ball that was not controlled well by Corallo. Former Lazio and Fiorentina midfielder Fiore made his debut for Mantova.

Chievo 3-0 Triestina
Chievo absolutely dominated their first victory of the campaign and there were worrying signs for Triestina fans. The game was already over by the half-time whistle. Mantovani gathered Marcolini’s free kick to open the scoring, then six minutes later Pellissier thumped an angled drive into the far corner. New signing Italiano marked his debut with a trademark set-piece.

Lecce 1-0 Treviso
Tiribocchi was on target for the second week running to keep Lecce on maximum points. Ariatti pushed his way into the box and set up the goal for the former Chievo hitman. Calderoni rushed out to close down a potential second from ‘Tir’, but in the second half Treviso fought back and could have equalised through Guigou’s free kick.

Messina 1-0 Cesena
Messina notched up their first victory of the season over stuttering Cesena in Sicily. Degano netted the winning goal with a precise left-footed angled drive and although Vascek, Mezavilla and Moscardelli had the chances to equalise, their finishing left something to be desired.

Piacenza 1-2 Modena
Piacenza’s crisis continued as they plummeted to the foot of the table following a second straight defeat. To make matters worse, this was a local derby and they rarely looked like threatening the Canarini. It was all Modena at the Stadio Garilli, with GiampĂ , Pinardi and Bruno denied by goalkeeper Cassano. Yet the Biancorossi took the lead against the run of play with Simon threading through for Kharja’s angled drive. Modena threw on ex-Roma youngster Okaka and within minutes he equalised with a fierce drive into the top corner. Bruno went round Cassano to secure victory and the top of the table.

Pisa 0-1 Frosinone
Pisa caused the shock of Week 1 by winning at Bari, but were brought back down to ground on their first home Serie B game in 13 years. Yet the Tuscans can take heart from their impressive performance and the extremely controversial incident that decided this match. Castillo hit the upright from a tight angle early on, but it was after the restart that the referee insisted Amerini’s effort had crossed the line before Morello’s clearance.

Ravenna 2-1 Ascoli
Ravenna surprised Ascoli for their first ever home game in Serie B. Perhaps the visitors’ midweek Coppa Italia exploits took their toll, as they tired badly in the second half. Succi scored a screamer set up by Toledo and Chianese’s counter-attack doubled Ravenna’s advantage. Guberti gave his side hope, but with Foglio’s red card it was an uphill struggle.

Rimini 2-1 Bari
Despite ending the match with just nine men on the field, Rimini completed a comeback to send Bari crashing to their second consecutive defeat. Lanzafame had given the visitors a shock lead at the Stadio Neri just five minutes in and Jeda drew the tie level from the penalty spot. After Vitiello’s dismissal, the Southerners thought they had the opportunity to snatch a prestigious away victory, but instead Regonesi struck in stoppages to turn the game around. Valiani also saw red, but the result did not change.

Vicenza 1-1 Albinoleffe
Albinoleffe are knocked off the top of the table, but still earned a late draw with current top scorer Cellini’s third goal in two games. Schwoch had given Vicenza the lead in spectacular fashion, dribbling past four defenders before thumping in a right-foot screamer. ‘Leffe threatened to get an equaliser and finally snatched it 19 minutes from time with Cellini’s long-range piledriver.

Monday 3 September
Spezia 0-2 Bologna
Bologna got off the mark with their first win of the season, but Spezia continue to struggle. Bombardini broke through after 15 minutes at the Picco with one of his trademark free kicks that curled round the outside of the defensive wall and in at the near post, taking the goalkeeper by surprise. Spezia had a penalty shout for handball, but the Rossoblu dominated and Santoni required a reaction save to deny Marazzina’s header. Adailton made his Bologna debut and immediately got on the scoresheet. The former Verona and Genoa hero struck eight minutes from time by pouncing on a loose ball. The home side nearly had a consolation goal in stoppages, but Antonioli fingertipped Guidetti’s header out from under the bar.


Source: C4 Football Italia

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