Week 11 of the Serie B season ended in somewhat of a bloodbath as not one, not even two, but three managers have been given the boot by their respective clubs. The men in question are Carlo Sabatini (Como), Mario Petrone (Ascoli) and Mark Iuliano (Latina), all paying the ultimate price for their clubs lack of form.
That amazingly already brings the number to five managers who have been sacked in only 11 match days of Serie B action.
To matters on the pitch and things are just as intriguing as former table toppers Crotone had a weekend to forget as they were demolished away to Pescara. To rub salt into Rossoblu wounds Cesena had a home win against Virtus Lanciano which sees them leapfrog Crotone into top spot.
Elsewhere Livorno seem to be rediscovering their early season form and Avellino will be causing one or two to look over their shoulders as Attilo Tesser’s Il Lupi side look as if they are finally hitting their stride.
We start this week’s review however at the Stadio Adriatico as Massimo Oddo’s Pescara side hosted table topping Crotone. The Rossoblu were coming off the back of a slightly disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Brescia in the week, while the Delfini were refreshed after their match to Novara was postponed due to fog.
In the end it was these extra days’ rest that proved vital as Pescara would take Crotone to the sword. It only took the hosts 17 minutes to take the lead as captain Ledian Memushaj, returning from injury, slotted home into the bottom right from the penalty spot.
It was 2-0 just before half time as Gianluca Lapadula got in behind the defence to slide home a perfectly weighted through ball by Memushaj. The second half would not get any better for Crotone as only seven minutes in Lapadula got his second and Pescara’s third.
This time running onto a past through by Gianluca Caprari, Lapadula coolly finished with the outside of his booth past Alex Cordaz in the goal. Then moments before the hour the demolition was complete, a cross from the right was swept home by Caprari to give the Delfini an unassailable 4-0 lead.
The visitors would pull one back on 67 minutes Claiton heading home a free kick from the right but it would prove nowhere near enough. An excellent win for Pescara, but for Crotone questions of their viability as contenders are being raised.
Crotone’s defeat presented Cesena with the chance to go top, for 24 hours at least, and it was a chance they duly took as the seahorses beat Virtus Lanciano 2-0 at home. They took the lead on 27 minutes when Perico threw himself at an inviting cross from the left to head into the top corner.
Cesena though would not have things all their own way as the Frentani were presented with a number of very enticing opportunities to draw level but were unable to take any of them. They were then duly made to pay as with only 15 minutes remaining a poor defensive clearance fell to the feet of Kessie who then tucked home into the bottom left.
2-0 the final score, Cesena go top.
Meanwhile further down the table Avellino looked to be finally picking up a bit of form as they easily beat Ternana 3-0 away from home. Mokulu gave the Lupi the lead on three minutes with a calm if somewhat mishit effort into the bottom corner.
Despite taking such an early lead it would not be until the 70th minute before they would double it. In the end it came from that man Marcello Trotta. Not long after being subbed on the big striker linked up well with Arini playing a one-two on the edge of the area before delightfully dinking the ball over the advancing Mazzoni.
Trotta would then seal the deal five minutes into stoppage time at the end as once again he finished with plenty of aplomb past Mazzoni.
Bari somehow continue to sit fifth in the table despite having a negative goal difference and they did very little to help that on Saturday. Novara were the visitors to the San Nicola and it was the Biancoazzurri who took the lead 21 minutes in.
A corner from the left was headed up and to the right before being headed back across goal where the third header proved the charm as Fargo was on hand to nod in.
The Galletti then went in search of the leveller, but apart from one guilt edged chance offered little. However, three minutes into stoppage time Bari got a massive stroke of luck as a lowly drilled cross from the right was inadvertently turned into his own net by Davide Faraoni. 1-0 it finished.
Livorno are now only three points off the top as they beat a faltering Trapani side 2-0 at the Armando Picci. The Amaranto took the lead on 33 minutes’ courtesy of Jelenic. After some very good one touch build up play Jelenic twisted on the spot before poking home.
Seven minutes from time Daniele Vantaggiato added a second headed home into the top right corner to give Livorno a vital 2-0 win.
Elsewhere around the league an Andrea Caracciolo penalty three minutes from time gave Brescia a 1-0 win against Latina at the Rigamonti. The defeat for was enough for the leonialti board to decide to give manager Mark Iuliano the old heave ho.
Ascoli lost 1-0 at home to Pro Vercelli an Addae own goal on 53 minutes the decider. This was also the defeat that saw Mario Petrone lose his job. As for the third managerial causality that would come about as a result of Como’s 1-1 draw at home to Modena which keeps them rooted to the bottom.
While the other two matches to be played so far this weekend also ended in draws as Salernitana and Perugia finished 1-1, whilst on Sunday Spezia and Virtus Entella ended goalless.
The final match of the weekend will probably have taken place or even be in progress as you read this as Cagliari look to return top as they play Vicenza at the Sant’Elia on Monday night.
View Week 11 Highlights Here.
View Current Table Here.
Week 11 Results:
Ascoli 0-1 Pro Vercelli, Bari 1-1 Novara, Brescia 1-0 Latina, Cesena 2-0 Virtus Lanciano, Como 1-1 Modena, Livorno 2-0 Trapani, Pescara 4-1 Crotone, Salernitana 1-1 Perugia, Ternana 0-3 Avellino, Spezia 0-0 Virtus Entella, (Mon) Cagliari v Vicenza.
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