It was potentially a make or break weekend for Pescara, defeat away to Cagliari coupled with a win by Crotone would surely consign them to looking towards the play-off’s as the only alternative in their quest to return to Serie A.
In the end the Delfini did not break but a large crack has appeared in the hull as they fall eight points behind a second placed Squali side.
It is at the Sant’Elia where we begin another week’s round up of Serie B as the Abruzzan outfit made the long trip to Sardinia to face a ruthless Cagliari. Despite what was to come for Pescara it was they who took the lead with just two minutes on the clock.
And a fine goal it was coming off the back of a perfectly executed free kick routine, that saw Ledian Memushaj place a low pass from the right into the feet of Gianluca Caprari on the edge of the box. Caprari then sweetly played the ball in around back right onto the feet of Lucas Torreira who had ghosted in unmarked to sweep home past Marco Storari in the goal.
The Delfini would have plenty of chances to double their advantage as the half wore on but lacked a certain clinical element in front of goal with the usually ever reliable Gianluca Lapadula being particularly culpable.
They were chances that Pescara would eventually come to rue as 15 minutes into the second half Cagliari got themselves back on level terms. Cutting the through the Delfini defence with neat one touch passing like a knife through Deadpool’s arm the ball ended up with Diego Farias who stuck it in the bottom left corner past Simone Aresti.
Seven minutes later it was 2-1 to the Rossoblu when Lapadula compounded his unlucky afternoon by putting through his own net from only yards out. Pescara would push for the leveller and came very close when Lapadula’s half volley clipped the crossbar and went over. The league’s top scorer also had what looked like a legitimate claim for a penalty waved away but in the end Cagliari held on to win and move five points clear at the top.
Second place Crotone would have to wait till early Sunday morning before they were able to reply to the gauntlet thrown down by the Rossoblu. Perhaps more on the Squali’s mind however was the chance to cement their second automatic promotion spot by extending their lead over third placed Pescara.
As for their opponents Salernitana things could not have been more different with the Granata languishing down near the foot of the table and in desperate need of three points. The Salerno outfit were not over awed however by their oppositions position in the table and took the game to them early on hitting the post from a header and forcing Alex Cordaz into one or two saves.
That being said Crotone would be the ones to open the scoring on 21 minutes when Adrian Stoian volleyed home with his instep after a cross from deep right to the back post. Again Salernitana refused to lie down and eventually got what they probably deserved three minutes from half time.
Massimo Coda heading home his eight of the season to leave the sides level at the break. The teams would both have chances to go on and win it in the second half but neither was able to do so and it remained 1-1, a point that will mean more to the visitors than Salernitana.
For the other sides hovering around the play-off spots it proved to be a very mixed week indeed. On Friday night Bari and Latina play out a scoreless draw at the San Nicola. A draw that leaves the Galletti two points clear of ninth place and just outside the play-offs Brescia.
As for the Biancoazzurri themselves they went down 1-0 away to Modena, Davide Luppi with the only goal of the match on 69 minutes poking home at the near post after a cross from the right. All things being told it was a massive win for the Gialloblu and one that moves them three points clear of the automatic relegation spots.
Cesena were another side unable to take full advantage of Pescara’s defeat as the fourth place side made the trip to Tuscany to face Livorno. It was the Amaranto who would take the lead in this one, a corner from the right was flicked on at the near post before being rather acrobatically put home by Federico Ceccherini.
The lead was not to last however as ten minutes into the second half Moussa Kone would squeeze the ball past Carlo Pinsoglio to earn Cesena what would be a share of the spoils and keep them in fourth.
Another of the leagues surprise packages Virtus Entella continued their fine season with a 3-2 away win against Pro Vercelli. The Biancocelesti were forced to do it the hard way in this one as they went 2-0 down inside a half hour against the Bianche Cascche.
Samuel Di Carmine would get the comeback rolling on 54 minutes tapping home an easy rebound after Mirko Pigliacelli had made a fine save. Pigliacelli not long after was sent off for a foul inside the box changing the whole outlook of the match.
Michele Troiano duly converted the penalty to make it 2-2. Then only two minutes later with 68 on the clock Di Carmine got his second to hand what looked after 30 minutes a very unlikely three points.
Elsewhere around the league Novara’s poor form continued as they fell 1-2 at home against a resurgent Ternana. Spezia kept their promotion hopes alive with a 2-0 win against relegation threatened Virtus Lanciano.
Speaking of relegation threatened Ascoli had a crucial 1-0 over Como in the weeks big six pointer at the bottom. Andrea Petanga’s strike on 53 minutes now surely condemning Como of the drop back into Lega Pro.
The final match on Saturday saw Vicenza and Avellino play out a nil all draw at the Romeo Menti. The final match of the weekend saw Perugia meet Trapani on Monday night at the Renato Curi with the Sicilians running out 2-0 winners with both goals coming in the last 15 minutes
View Highlights HERE.
View Table HERE.
Week 27 Results:
Bari 0-0 Latina, Ascoli 1-0 Como, Cagliari 2-1 Pescara, Livorno 1-1 Cesena, Modena 1-0 Brescia, Novara 1-2 Ternana, Pro Vercelli 2-3 Virtus Entella, Spezia 2-0 Virtus Lanciano, Vicenza 0-0 Avellino, Salernitana 1-1 Crotone, Perugia 0-2 Trapani
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