31 weekly round-up’s in and over 30,000 words written so far on this year’s season and still this division makes about as much sense to me as a conversation between Sylvester Stallone and Steven Segal in a washing machine.
Basically no matter how much I think I have things figured out Serie B always finds a way to pull the rug. Week 31 of the campaign of course proved no different as it threw up surprise wins, big wins and a truly mental affair at the Del Duca.
The weekend began at the Stadio Rigamonti in Brescia as the hosts entertained table toppers Crotone. The Squali headed into the fixture one point clear of Cagliari and were looking to make that four before the Sardinians took to the field against Perugia on Monday night.
Brescia meanwhile had not been having the best of 2016’s so far and had seen their position in the promotion play-offs come under jeopardy. On Friday night however one would have guessed it was the Biancoazzurri who were leading the pack as they dispatched with the Calabrian’s with aplomb.
20 year old Luca Mazzatelli put them in front on 35 minutes after a looping ball over the top found him free inside the box, letting it bounce before him the midfielder then smashed it past Alex Cordaz. Three minutes before the hour it was 2-0, Carlos Embalo striking the ball just as sweetly as his teammate, but this time from a tighter angle and with the attention of a defender, into the bottom left corner. Two minutes before that Crotone had been reduced to ten men with the dismissal of Leonardo Capezzi.
Then with 71 minutes on the clock another Leonardo, this time Brescia’s exciting young Morosini scored a cracker from just outside the area into the top right corner. 3-0 it finished as Brescia comprehensively did the job on table toppers Crotone.
As already mentioned with Cagliari not playing till the Monday night all eyes turned to the Saturday encounter between third and fourth place sides Pescara and Novara. Massimo Oddo’s Delfini had been slumping in recent matches and were looking to put things right at home to a resurging Novara outfit.
Sadly, for the majority of fans at the Adriatico it would prove another disappointing weekend. Simone Corazza gave the visitors the lead on seven minutes with a well-placed header after a cross from right. Pescara though will be asking how he managed to be left so isolated in the middle of their box.
Just before the half hour mark however Pescara were back on level terms when Gianluca Caprari curled home a delectable free kick into the top left corner. As fine a goal as it was it was still not enough to earn his side any points as with 52 minutes on the clock Felice Evacuo peeled away from his man at the back post before calmly slotting home. From there Novara held out for a priceless three points.
Down at the San Nicola Bari had what looked on paper to be an easy enough three points against Pro Vercelli and although the final score may suggest it was, for a while the Galletti were sweating buckets.
Mariano Defendi got the ball rolling for the home side on 15 minutes when he smashed home from close range. Riccardo Maniero then made it two on 39 minutes stabbing home at the back post after a low cross from the right. Early into the second half it was three when Gianluca Sansone curled home a free kick that was equal to or even better than Caprari’s for Pescara. From there the Galletti looked home and hosed but this is Bari and things are rarely simple.
Simone Emmanuello pulled one back for Vercelli on 57 minutes with a lovely finish after a nice sweeping move. 12 minutes later it was 3-2 Giacomo Beretta scoring from the spot. Bari pulses were beginning to race but were set at ease by Alessandro Rosina’s 79th minute curling, bending, looping effort from the corner of the box.
Rosina then made it 5-2 with three minutes left this time placing low and hard past Mirko Pigliacelli. Finally, right at the very end Jacopo Dezi rounded off the scoring to give Bari the 6-2 win and far more importantly all three points.
The award for the maddest match of the weekend though goes to the encounter between Ascoli and Avellino at the Stadio Del Duca. Ten minutes in Benjamin Mokulu sprung the offside trap to race in behind the Ascoli defence and finish with plenty of composure. Seven minutes later the powerful forward made it two by stealing in front of his marker to tap home a cross from Roberto Insigne.
Far from being dead and buried relegation threatened Ascoli soon hit back Jakub Jankto finishing from the edge of the area after an initial effort cannoned off the post and into his path. By the 39th minute the Picchio were back on level terms, Daniele Cacia capitalising on a defensive horror show to finish into the empty net.
That still wasn’t the end of the first half action however as on 43 minutes Cacia put the home side in front, controlling a long ball over the top and then rolling his made he slid the ball into the bottom right corner.
The second half would not have as many goals but would still prove as equally mental. Four minutes past the hour Avellino drew level, a long ball forward was beautifully cushioned down into the path of the advancing Insigne by Luigi Castaldo, without breaking his stride Roberto’s younger brother met the ball and placed it neatly into the bottom right.
Amazingly there was still even more drama to come as with only two minutes of normal time remaining Avellino won a penalty. Captain Castaldo duly stepped up and won all three points for the visiting Lupi outfit.
Elsewhere around the league Cesena won 3-1 away to doomed Como although they did have to come from behind to do it. Spezia had a comfortable 2-0 win at home to Modena, Emanuele Calaio with the opener.
Meanwhile the massive relegation six-pointer between Salernitana and Virtus Lanciano saw the Frentani come away with a 1-3 win, Federico Di Francesco (2) and Nicola Ferrari with the goals, Alfredo Donnarumma with the Granata’s only effort.
Livorno v Virtus Entella and Ternana v Latina both finish scoreless, while on Sunday evening Vicenza’s relegation troubles heightened as they went down 2-1 at home against Trapani.
Finally, the last match of week 31 takes place tonight (Monday) and sees Cagliari play Perugia with a win for the Sardinian’s seeing them return to the top of the table.
View Table HERE.
View Ascoli v Avellino Highlights HERE.
Week 31 Results:
Brescia 3-0 Crotone, Ascoli 3-4 Avellino, Bari 6-2 Pro Vercelli, Como 1-3 Cesena, Livorno 0-0 Virtus Entella, Pescara 1-2 Novara, Salernitana 1-3 Virtus Lanciano, Spezia 2-0 Modena, Ternana 0-0 Latina, Vicenza 1-2 Trapani, Cagliari (Mon) Perugia.
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