When the Serie B season started 38 matches ago, let’s be honest we all expected a team beginning with the letter C to be sitting top at this stage of the campaign. Never though in our wildness dreams, and I’m guessing theirs, did we think that, that side would be called Crotone.
With promotion now just a formality you are about to hear a lot more about this Calabrian outfit. To put it simply plenty of bandwagon articles will be written over the next number of weeks commending the Squali for achieving what was deemed impossible. For you and I though we have been on the Crotone train for a long time now, that is not said in a smug way but with a sense that this promotion was inevitable from a long way out. Crotone have simply been the best team in Serie B this year there is no way around that fact.
Crotone have achieved the incredible and in the race for views and exposure that may be missed by people in the coming days. So while you can, before the football fanatics, who can’t tell a Cordaz from a Claiton, come to say they have been watching them all year, take a step back and in the quietness of wherever you may read this piece take a moment to admire a team written off by all, including me, who have done something that shakes the very foundations of Calcio itself.
The party began in earnest for the Rossoblu this weekend with a 2-0 win over bottom side Como at the Scida. With the Stadio packed to the rafters and bouncing to the beat of Serie A the hosts took the lead on 25 minutes with the veteran Francesco Modesto latching onto a Raffaele Palladino back-heel to drill low past Simone Scuffet.
Just before the break on 44 minutes, one of the men of the season for Crotone Ante Budimir popped up with his 16th of the campaign. The big Bosnian rolling home from about seven yards out after more unselfish play by Palladino.
The second half would see no addition to that score line from either side but the vast majority of the fans in attendance could not care less. With that the players of Crotone gathered under the ecstatic Curva Sud, while the world at large looked on processing the remarkable.
Across from the region of Calabria lays the island of Sicily and on its western tip, just as Crotone celebrated the people of Trapani dared to dream of achieving their very own miracle. Led by the famous Serse Cosmi the Granata have been on a run of epic proportions that has seen them rise to the dizzy heights of third in the table. While the automatic spots are more than likely just beyond reach the play-offs are there’s for the taking.
The latest victory came against fellow play-off contenders Cesena, a club managed by Massimo Drago who incidentally was given the boot by Crotone last season. As for matters on the pitch the Sicilians would take the lead on 37 minutes Antonino Barilla smashing home into the bottom right corner after a lightning quick break up the field.
Cesena would have chances of their own but it would be Trapani who find the net again next. Bruno Petkovic with an excellent header looped into the far right corner after a cross from the left. Cesena would get one back right at the death but it was not enough, Trapani sit third what odds in two fairy tales happening again for the second year in a row.
Second place Caglairi continue to frustrate after they were held 1-1 at the Sant’Elia against relegation threatened Virtus Lanciano. Marco Sau gave the Rossoblu the lead on eight minutes with a terrific effort from the edge of the area, swivelling on the spot the diminutive attacker lofted the ball into the top right corner past a static Alessio Cragno.
However as with recent weeks the Sardinians proved unable to hold onto this lead and on 38 minutes the Frentani were back level. Nicola Ferrari racing onto a long ball over the top, holding off his man before then putting the ball past Marco Storari. 1-1 it finished, just enough for Cagliari, Lanciano still with plenty of work to do.
Talking of Lanciano that allows us to seamlessly transition to matters down at the bottom of the table. Livorno’s win midweek proved nothing more than a flash in the pan as they returned to the regular viewing schedule this weekend with a 3-1 away defeat the fellow relegation candidates Salernitana.
It only took the Granata one minute to get off the mark, Alfredo Donnarumma heading home a corner from the right. On 31 minutes it was 2-0 Massimo Coda, a man whose goals have been crucial in keeping Salernitana in the fight to stay up, with his 15th of the year. The former Parma man driving home from just outside the box after a horrific defensive clearance feel right into his path.
In fairness to the Amaranto they battled and were unlucky on a number of occasions not to have got back on level terms. They were finally rewarded for this endeavour on 40 minutes when Daniele Vantaggiato made no mistake from the spot.
Livorno though have been nowhere near good enough this season and they were punished again early in the second half when Antonio Zito finished at the back post after being left in acres of space. Salerntiana would have a man sent off just past the hour but it was not to matter. The Granata’s faith remains in their own hands as for Livorno they are now four points from safety.
As for some of the other relegation battlers it proved to be mixed bag of a weekend. Modena failed to hold onto a lead once again but they can still be somewhat satisfied with a point away to Bari. The result for the Galletti meanwhile sees them drop to fifth.
Vicenza were humbled by Spezia at the Romeo Menti on Saturday evening. The Aquilotti coming away with a 0-3 win that boosts their play-off credentials. Pro Vercelli continue to almost quietly walk through the door to survival while the rest behind continue to bicker.
Still it could have been better for the Leoni after their 81st minute opener was cancelled out by Luigi Castaldo only 60 seconds later. Daniele Cacia continues to roll back the years as he scored twice in Ascoli’s 1-3 away win against Ternana, the picchio are now five points clear of danger.
In the remaining matches of the weekend, Pescara came from behind to beat Brescia 2-1 and Latina lost yet again this time 0-1 to Virtus Entella, Latina now very much in danger of going down. The final match of week 38 takes place Monday night and sees Novara host Perugia.
Until next week then all Hail Crotone.
View Table HERE.
Week 38 Results:
Crotone 2-0 Como, Bari 1-1 Modena, Cagliari 1-1 Virtus Lanciano, Pescara 2-1 Brescia, Pro Vercelli 1-1 Avellino, Ternana 1-3 Ascoli, Trapani 2-1 Cesena, Vicenza 0-3 Spezia, Salernitana 3-1 Livorno, Latina 0-1 Virtus Entella, Novara (Mon) Perugia
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