32 down and ten to go, the Serie B season has turned into the final straight and is galloping full speed towards the post. For some this will bring the sweet release of a nice long summer break for others the joy of promotion and for more still the stinging remorse of what could have been as they slip into Lega Pro.
Even at this late stage of the season that spectre of relegation has led many an owner to hover their hand above the big red panic button. Como, Vicenza and Livorno being just three who have pushed it so far. The Amaranto in fact doing it only a couple of hours before I wrote this very piece, bringing in the vastly experienced Franco Colomba.
Enough though about matters off the pitch and instead let’s delve right into the weekends action. We begin with Cagliari’s visit to the Romeo Menti where they faced off against an increasingly beleaguered and desperate Vicenza outfit.
Things though have not been all sunshine and lollipops for the Rossoblu of late as they have hit their worst period of form in the season to date. This would prove however one of those better afternoons in which the Sardinians would collect all three points.
Again though it would not be plain sailing and the dismissal of Marco Pinato after 41 minutes would go a long way in helping. Indeed, it would be an old mate who would come back to haunt the Lane, as on 68 minutes Antonio Cinelli would slide home at the back post after a low cross from Federico Melchiorri managed to find its way through to him.
Knowing that he scored a goal that deepened Vicenza’s relegation woes Cinelli refused to celebrate against his former side. The killer blow of a second goal came right on the stroke of 90 minutes as Melchiorri turned from provider to finisher as he turned his man inside out in the box before drilling low and hard into the bottom left corner. 2-0 it finished, Cagliari back to some tiny bit of form but just more woe for Vicenza.
That win saw the Rossoblu briefly return to the top of the table before Crotone played Pescara on Sunday. And brief it did turn out to be as the Squali continued their great season with a fine 4-2 win over a Pescara team who look to be edging closer and closer to a full blown crisis.
The Calabrian’s only took five minutes to open the scoring at the Scida, captain fantastic Claiton drifting in unmarked at the back stick to chest home a corner from the left from about two yards out. 11 minutes later it was 2-0 Raffaele Palladino instinctively placing the ball into the bottom right corner with his instep after some tenacious work by the ever impressive Federico Ricci.
The Delfini halved the deficit on 27 minutes when he deflected home an effort by his teammate past a stranded Alex Cordaz. The joy though was very short lived as only two minutes later the Squali had restored their two goal lead.
Giuseppe Zampano heading in unmarked at the far right hand post after Vincenzo Fiorillo raced from his goal to try punch clear only to miss the ball altogether. On 53 minutes it was 4-1, another header this time and like so many of the goals before hand it proved all too easy for the scorer Gianmarco Ferrari rising highest to head home a corner from the left hand side.
Mr Penalty himself Ledian Memushaj would pull another pack for Pescara from the spot but it would prove fruitless. 4-2 it finished, Crotone go back top, Pescara are now eight.
For some of the other promotion hopefuls it proves rather a mixed week. Novara took on Bari at the Silvio Piola, things started out perfectly for the hosts a Pablo Gonzalez put them in front with only three minutes on the clock, bending a lovely effort past a static Alessandro Micai into the bottom left corner.
That however was to be as good as it got for the Biancoazzurri as they would eventually go down to second half goals from the Galletti. The first of which came on 57 minutes, Riccardo Maniero squeezing the ball just beyond the fingertips of an outstretched David Da Costa after being set through by Alessandro Rosina.
Then with 12 minutes remaining Gianluca Sansone won it for the visitors. A long throw in was flicked on at the near post into the path of Sansone, who swivelling in mid-air managed to volley it past Da Costa.
Elsewhere in the play-off hunt Virtus Entella and Spezia played out a 2-2 draw, Francesco Caputo scoring both the goals for Entella while Nene got both for the Aquilotti. Cesena went down 2-0 away to a resurgent Virtus Lanciano side.
The Frentani’s situation had been looking poorly not too long ago but a fine run of results has seen them climb up into 13th. Nicola Ferrari gave the hosts the lead two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half smashing a penalty into the top left corner. The points were sealed on 78 minutes when Guido Marilungo headed home despite some tight attention.
Meanwhile also down towards the bottom Pro Vercelli and Ascoli only managed to play out a 1-1 draw. Daniele Cacia giving Ascoli the lead from the spot only for Ettore Marchi to reply in kind with a penalty of his own.
Massimo Coda rescued what may turn out to be a big point for Salernitana as his 74th minute penalty cancelled out Rodrigo Aguirre’s opener for Perugia at the Renato Curi. Livorno depressing season continued as they lost 1-0 in Sicily. Pasquale Fazio’s 76th minute drive into the bottom left corner from just on the edge of the area enough to give Trapani the win.
Como got off to the perfect start under the management of Stefano Cuoghi as they beat a Modena side seemingly intent on staying in a relegation battle 1-2 at the Stadio Braglia. While Latina and Brescia finished 2-2 in a result that does not overly help either side.
The final match of the weekend takes place tonight (Monday) and sees Avellino host Ternana.
View Table HERE.
Week 32 Results:
Virtus Entella 2-2 Spezia, Latina 2-2 Brescia, Modena 1-2 Como, Novara 1-2 Bari, Perugia 1-1 Salernitana, Pro Vercelli 1-1 Ascoli, Trapani 1-0 Livorno, Vicenza 0-2 Cagliari, Virtus Lanciano 2-0 Cesena, Crotone 4-2 Pescara, Avellino (Mon) Ternana.
The post Serie B Week 32 Round-up appeared first on IFD.
from IFD http://ift.tt/1Rdttkh
via IFTTT berita selengkapnya Follow @jadwalliga
