We knew there was going to be fireworks, it was after all the last round of fixtures before Serie B went on its break. Yet we could never have expected anything like this.
Four of the bottom five sides would end the day three points better off and what’s more to their increased points tally they have now also drawn a host of other names into the relegation battle. Back at the top it has been an exceptional Christmas for Cagliari and Crotone who are now eight and seven points clear respectively at the top. While the chasing pack behind them took a bruising on a chastising weekend for the leagues so called bigger hitters.
We forego with tradition ourselves this week and instead initially concentrate and the events that unfolded down the rear of the table. First under the microscope was the encounter between Como and Salernitana at the Stadio Sinigaglia.
A defeat for the Lariani would surely have all but confirmed confirmed their relegation back to Lega Pro even with only half the season having been played. For the Granata the stakes were equally high as they went in search of three points that would go some way in easing their own relegation fears.
So taking the match at face value it was the proverbial six pointer. It was Salernitana who would draw first blood on 29 minutes. A low cross from the left towards the near post was skilfully back heeled into the bottom corner from former Parma man Massimo Coda.
The travelling fans though would only have less than ten minutes to celebrate their lead as on 38 minutes Como were deservedly level. This goal was less glamorous but equally effective. A corner from the left was swung in towards the danger area where it was met by the rampaging Ebagua who came from nowhere to rise highest and head downwards into the bottom right corner.
With parity now restored the game settled down and both sides went about preventing the other from getting a second rather than scoring another of their own. However, in the fourth minute of stoppage time at the end of the match Como were handed a penalty.
With the weight of every Como fan resting on his shoulders Simone Ganz strode up to the ball and stroked it into the bottom right corner sending the keeper the wrong way. The goal handed Como only their second win of the season and their first under Gianluca Festa.
Highflying Novara made the trip to the Stadio Braglia to take on Modena. The Biancoazzurri had been in terrific form in recent weeks but were to be brought back down to Earth with a bump by Hernan Crespo’s lowly Gialloblu side.
Davide Luppi gave the Emilian outfit the lead on 37 minutes. A cross from the right hand side end line made its way to Luppi and just as it was about to bounce in front of him the striker swung his leg at the ball. He didn’t catch the volley all to sweetly but it had enough to worm its way past Da Costa in the goal.
That was how it would stay until the 73rd minute when Francesco Stanco got his head to a cross at the near post to head home. It was a good finish from Stanco but most of the praise must go to Luppi and Matteo Rubin for their work down the left hand side of the pitch.
Then heading into stoppage time Luppi rounded off the perfect day for him and Modena with a brilliant third. Picking up the ball at the half way line he ran at the heart of the Novara defence which just no answer for him before coolly then sliding home for the goal of the game.
Ascoli leapfrog out of the relegation zone after they though Mimo Di Carlo’s Spezia side a thing or two. Andrea Petagna opened the scoring for the Picchio on 53 minutes getting on the end of a ball across the six-yard box to tap home.
Ascoli would then proceed to hit the crossbar on numerous occasions before they finally added the second on 78 minutes. This time the ball entered the box via a corner from the right and from there it was met by Bright Addae on the volley and he steered it home despite the Aquilotti keeper getting his fingertips to it.
Then with ten minutes remaining Daniele Cacia rounded off the scoring. Showing great control, the veteran hitman shrugged of the efforts of his marker before then showing the composure that has made him such a dangerous player at this level to drill home.
Livorno continue to do what they do best and lose. The Amaranto are now well and truly up the creek without a paddle and sit only three points clear of relegation. The latest side to benefit from the oh so generous Tuscan outfit was Virtus Lanciano.
It was just past the hour mark when the Frentani took the lead, Guido Marilungo blasting his penalty straight down the middle. It was two only two minutes later and again it came from that man Marilungo. This time the 26-year-old striker acrobatically bicycle kicked it home from six yards out after Livorno failed to clear their lines.
Cristian Bunino would pull one back for the Amaranto ten minutes from time but it was not to be enough. Another defeat for Livorno and that surely means Bortolo Mutti’s day’s in charge are numbered.
Focusing our attention back towards the top of the table Cagliari had a comfortable 3-0 home win against Pro Vercelli. Joao Pedro opened the scoring on 14 minutes, it was then doubled by Diego Farias on 25 minutes before Marco Fossati rounded things off for the Rossoblu in the 92nd minute.
Things were a deal tougher for Crotone in Chiavari as they took on Virtus Entella, but the Squali got there in the end. Bruno Martella gave them and early lead and Leonardo Capezzi had them two up before the half hour mark. However only three minutes later Gaetano Masucci pulled on back for Entella but 1-2 Crotone it would finish.
Elsewhere around the league Bari continue to confuse supporters and pundits alike as they went down 1-0 to Trapani in Sicily. Pasquale Fazio with the only goal of the game there. Ten man Brescia held out to pick up a point at home to Ternana, Alexandre Geijo the man given his marching orders early on.
Ledian Memushaj goal ten minutes from time gave Pescara a 1-0 away win against Latina. Memushaj incidentally was sent off for excessively celebrating the Delfini goal. Avellino game from behind to beat Cesena at the Manuzzi, Luigi Castaldo with the all-important goal on 63 minutes.
The final match of the weekend Perugia v Vicenza was postponed due to fog.
Serie B now goes on its winter break and will be back the weekend of the 16th-17th of January.
View Week 21 Highlights HERE.
View Table HERE.
Week 21 Results:
Latina 0-1 Pescara, Ascoli 3-0 Spezia, Brescia 0-0 Ternana, Cagliari 3-0 Pro Vercelli, Cesena 1-2 Avellino, Como 2-1 Salernitana, Modena 3-0 Novara, Trapani 1-0 Bari, Virtus Entella 1-2 Crotone, Virtus Lanciano 2-1 Livorno, Perugia v Vicenza.
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