Catanzaro and Mantua mocked. Cremonese wins the playoff clash in Cesena. Juve Stabia stops in Reggio Emilia, Frosinone takes on the survival challenge against Salernitana. Six goals in a draw between Modena and Brescia
Goals, expulsions and comebacks. The Serie B Boxing Day is full of emotions even after Pisa-Sassuolo. Cosenza equalized the endless Calabrian derby against Catanzaro thanks to Ciervo’s penalty in the 106th minute. Mantova deludes itself and is mocked in the 93rd minute by Falcinelli: against Spezia it is only 1-1. Cremonese wins the playoff match against Cesena without Shpendi, defeated at the Manuzzi 1-0. Bisoli comes close to his first victory as coach of Brescia but is caught up by his former team: crazy 3-3 against Modena at the Rigamonti. Vergara and Portanova launch Reggiana: 2-1 against Juve Stabia. Cittadella leaves Bolzano with three fundamental points with a view to survival: Sudtirol loses at Druso 2-1 and is last. Frosinone also saved the day as they beat Salernitana 2-0 at the Stirpe. At 6pm Palermo-Bari, at 8.30pm Sampdoria-Carrarese closes the day.
Brescia – Modena 3-3
—
The hosts are coming off two consecutive draws under the new Bisoli management and are looking for three points to cover up the crisis, which resulted in protests from the fans. Opposite moment for Modena who comes from two victories in a row, the last prestigious one at Braglia against Pisa. The yellow-blues pass at the first opportunity: in the 16th minute Brescia’s mistake in setting up, Pedro Mendes acts as a buffer for Gerli who doesn’t forgive Lezzerini with his right foot. In the 35th minute Brescia’s forcing was rewarded: Verreth’s right-foot volley from the edge and the ball into the corner, 1-1. Advantage that lasts ten minutes, then Modena takes the lead again with Santoro: one-two with Gelli and a strong right-footed shot on goal that makes it 2-1. Emotions that are not lacking even in the second half: in the 50th minute Cistana scores 2-2. Brescia plays well, attacks on the external lanes and is also unlucky with Borrelli’s crossbar in the 74th minute. In the 83rd minute the comeback of Bisoli’s team was completed with the 3-2 obtained thanks to Magnino’s own goal from a corner melee. The lead lasted only 5′ because Bozhanaj was glacial in the area, scoring and sealing a crazy 3-3.
Cesena – Cremonese 0-1
—
The Emilians are coming off three defeats in the last four and need points. The Grigiorossi arrive at Manuzzi after two draws in a row. Without Shpendi, Cesena loses a lot. In the 14th minute Cremonese crosses the crossbar with Vazquez. In the 28th minute, Antonucci sensationally squandered the 1-0 lead on the counterattack, having his shot deflected by Castagnetti. The match ends on the hour mark with Vandeputte receiving from Vazquez and first of all putting her in the corner. When the Grigiorossi raise their quality they do badly and in the 70th minute Nasti devours the second goal with a moving penalty. Stroppa’s team takes fourth place. Second defeat in a row for Cesena.
Cosenza – Catanzaro 1-1
—
Great crisis for Cosenza, fresh from three consecutive defeats and tied with Frosinone in last place in the table. Catanzaro lost the last match against Spezia, interrupting a streak of 11 consecutive useful results. After 20′ of study, here is the crossbar of Kourfalidis’s Cosenza. Moment that precedes Caporale’s expulsion a minute later, with the home defender catching Pittarello thrown into the net. Catanzaro dominates due to ball possession and the post is hit in the 27th minute by Bonini with a header from a corner. In the 56th minute, a colossal opportunity for Cosenza with Kouan who devours the lead all alone after a great counterattack. In the 80th minute Pompetti put Catanzaro ahead with a right-footed shot from outside the corner. But it’s just an illusion. In the more than ten minutes of injury time allowed, everything happens: a goal disallowed by Kouan for a touch of the hand, a sensational post by Strizzolo and a penalty converted by Ciervo in the sixteenth minute of injury time which makes the final 1-1. Golden point for Cosenza.
Frosinone – Salernitana 2-0
—
Delicate salvation challenge at the Stirpe: last and fifth last of the class face each other, separated by only two points. Great balance on the pitch and many duels, resulting in four yellows in less than 30′. The first real opportunity comes in the 40th minute with Oyono’s post, Biraschi fails to score on the rebound. Before the interval, Ghiglione’s madness comes in with a hammer foot on Begic: direct red. In the 63rd minute the fear was dispelled by Kvernadze who put Frosinone ahead with a personal solo: he recovered, started from midfield, took center stage and fired a shot where Sepe could only watch. Ambrosino closed it out in the 84th minute with a right-footed volley into Colantuono’s sleeping defence.
Reggiana – Juve Stabia 2-1
—
In the Reggiana house nothing goes as it should. Viali’s team comes from three knockouts in the last four. Newly promoted Juve Stabia is flying, fresh from the prestigious home success against Cesena which took them up to fourth place. The home team made it 1-0 in the 12th minute with Portanova who headed the ball to reward Vergara’s excellent work on the right, resulting in the decisive cross. Juve Stabia is passive and risks: in the 23rd minute Lucchesi hits the crossbar, in the 24th minute Vergara doubles the score: he recovers a ball, gets Varnier drunk and scores the 2-0 with his left foot. The match is played a lot in midfield, Bardi scores the miracle in the 71st minute on Piovanello. Pagliuca’s team took pride and reopened the match in the 82nd minute with Adorante’s header. The goal, however, is not enough. The newly promoted team loses.
Spezia – Mantua 1-1
—
Catanzaro’s away success has projected the Ligurians to second place in the standings. At the Picco, a Mantova team shows up that struggles a lot on the road: four draws and five defeats. On the other hand, Possanzini’s team hammered from the first moments: after a lot of possession, in the 18th minute Debenedetti uncorked the match with a header that went past Gori. In the 30th minute the match turns: double yellow for Brignani for a foul on Degli Innocenti, Mantova with 10 men. On the following free kick, Esposito comes close to equalising. The Ligurians dominate and in the 66th minute Pio Esposito’s equalizer was disallowed for offside. Possanzini expelled for protests. The match is very nervous, Spezia is unlucky with Degli Innocenti’s crossbar in the 72nd minute. In the end, Spezia equalized with Falcinelli: a killer touch in front of goal in the 93rd minute which avoided defeat for the Ligurians. Mantua mocked.
Sudtirol – Cittadella 1-2
—
Another delicate salvation challenge. The Castori cure is bringing benefits to the South Tyroleans, who have gained 4 points in the last two. Same performance for Cittadella who will want to make a loud statement to Druso. Strong approach from Sudtirol which unlocks the lead after 7 minutes: El Kaouakibi attempts a shot, Casiraghi and Casolari arrive, last touch from the latter and own goal. The Cittadella goalkeeper surpasses himself in the 27th minute with a sensational save on Odogwu with a sure shot. Just before the break the guests equalized and it was a masterpiece: Casolari’s curling move from far away which went into the top corner. In the 56th minute Poluzzi keeps Sudtirol standing with a senseless save on Carisson’s header. Cittadella has more and in the 80th minute they completely turn it around with Pandolfi, as usual, who heads a ball that Poluzzi watches go in. Castori’s team, first knockout for him, is last.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED