We’ve just about reached the half way point of the Serie B season and the protagonists for promotion, relegation and everything in between are by now making themselves well known.
To say it has been a season of surprises would be an understatement with unlikely names occupying positions at the top and bottom of the league. One name in particular does occupy a spot many expected them to do but it has been far from plain sailing and they have been pushed all the way by the biggest surprise of the lot.
It is the Rossoblu of Cagliari that will spend Christmas at the top of the table thanks to their win away to Salernitana on Christmas eve, coupled with the Squali of Crotone’s inability to breakdown a resolute Trapani defence the night before.
The win however was not the main talking point to take from this match but the chaotic scenes that took place five minutes from time. Andres Tello had just doubled the Sardinians lead with a neat finish into the bottom right corner but it was what he did next that incited the fury of Granata fans and players alike.
Tello proceeded the celebrate his goal right in front of the Salernitana Ultras goading them into a reaction. And react they did with as they lambasted him at a defeating volume. The Granata players were also none too happy with Tello’s actions and proceeded to chase after him before confronting him face to face near the side line.
The result of this fracas saw four men given a red card by referee Luca Pairetto, two from Cagliari and two from Salernitana. Tello was one of the men for the Rossoblu along with sub Melchiorri while for the Granata it was Rossi and sub Sciaudone. A very heated end to the match. Peace and prosperity to all men this Christmas went out the window in Salerno this Thursday afternoon.
The other matches may not have ended in such dramatic fashion but they are still well worth a look at. As already mention Crotone slip off the top of the table after they were unable to breakdown Serse Cosmi’s Trapani side at the Ezio Scida.
However, it’s not all bad news as the Rossoblu still sit four points clear in second a position they would have snapped your hand off for at the start of the year.
Bari meanwhile lost further ground on the automatic promotion spots and indeed third place Novara after they were beaten 2-1 at home by Brescia. Rada gave the Galletti the lead on 12 minutes rising highest in the box to head home a corner from the right.
Brescia thought they had got back on level terms early in the second half with an Embalo strike from the edge of the area. However, one of his own players was adjudged to have been blocking the view of Guarna in the goal and it was disallowed.
The Biancoazzurri did though get back on level terms on 68 minutes via a penalty by Caracciolo which he smashed into the left corner. Then 12 minutes from time the visitors snatched it when sub Geijo found himself in the right place at the right time to poke home. 1-2 it finished at the San Nicola.
Novara moved three points clear of Bari in third after they drew 0-0 at home to Cesena on Wednesday evening. As mention in the last Serie B round-up it was interesting to find out how much gas was left in the Livorno explosion, as it turns out there is plenty more after they embarrassed themselves at home to Ascoli.
Petagna gave the Picchio the lead on two minutes with an instinctive finish into the bottom right corner. It was two on six minutes when Cacia got on the end of a corner form the right. By now the Livorno fans were beginning to turn and things were not to get any better. Nava put through his own net on 67 minutes to give the Amaranto a lifeline but eight minutes from time Giorgi scored a third for Ascoli meaning there will be very little Christmas cheer around the Amaranto this year.
Como remain rooted to the bottom of the table after they once again managed to blow a lead. This time it was away to Spezia. Bessa gave the visitors the lead on 65 minutes with a cool finish past the advancing keeper.
Only five minutes later however the Aquilotti were back on level terms when Nene dispatched home from the penalty spot. 1-1 was how it finished. Meanwhile Pescara beat Modena 1-0 at the Adriatico. The league’s top scorer Lapadula added another to his collection with a finish nine minutes into the second half.
There was also a 1-0 win for Perugia away to Pro Vercelli. Zapata with the only goal 24 minutes in. With that win the Grifone move up into the last play-off position. The only other team to win this mid-week was Avellino who beat Virtus Entella 2-0. The goals coming on four and 86 minutes respectively from Trotta and Castaldo.
And finally the last two remaining matches of round 20 finished 1-1 as Ternana drew with Virtus Lanciano and Vicenza drew with Latina.
Serie B will be back a few days after Christmas with its last round of fixtures before the break, until then,
Buon Natale.
View Highlights HERE.
View Table HERE.
Week 20 Results:
Avellino 2-0 Virtus Entella, Bari 1-2 Brescia, Crotone 0-0 Trapani, Livorno 1-3 Ascoli, Novara 0-0 Cesena, Pescara 1-0 Modena, Pro Vercelli 0-1 Perugia, Spezia 1-1 Como, Ternana 1-1 Virtus Lanciano, Vicenza 1- Latina, Salernitana 0-2 Cagliari.
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