Palermo-Spezia 2-2: the Rosanero beat the Ligurians in the final of the Serie B postponement

Only Palermo and Spezia were missing from the tenth matchday of Serie B. A movie match, which ends 2-2 with emotions, comebacks, and the decisive goal from Stulac in the 104th minute. In the postponement spin between the rosanero and bianconeri – with the home team in the play-off zone and the guests in the zone play-out – anything really happens. Spezia goes ahead by two goals with first Reca and then Francesco Pio Esposito, Mancosu reopens it and in the final a perfect free kick from the Slovenian midfielder (after a penalty canceled by the VAR with an accompanying expulsion) gives Palermo an incredible and at times unexpected draw.

the match

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In front of a festively dressed Barbera, with more than 29,000 spectators present – a seasonal record -, Palermo has a clear objective: to win to avoid the first mini-breakaway of league leaders Parma and regain 2nd place in the standings momentarily occupied by Catanzaro after the victory of the Calabrians over Feralpi Salò on Saturday. On the other side, however, a Spezia arrives in great form, and in fact the start is divided between the two teams. First Antonucci tries, then Brunori. Just after the half hour mark here is the key play: Reca recovers the ball, runs across the entire Rosanero half of the field and scores the 1-0 lead for Juventus. At the start of the second half, a long Var check which calls referee Fourneau to the monitor for a stomp in the Spezia area against Brunori. For the match director it is not a penalty. Palermo suffers from the failure to grant the penalty and Spezia takes advantage of it in the 70th minute: Zurkowski escapes and slots in, Francesco Pio Esposito takes advantage and finds the tap-in which is worth an encore. A double advantage that lasts a few minutes, because in the 73rd minute Mancuso immediately shortens. 7′ of injury time gave Palermo more life as they launched themselves in search of an equaliser, even though they found themselves far behind on more than one occasion. The most sensational opportunity occurs in the 93rd minute at the feet of Soleri, who all alone in the center of the area hits his teammate Di Francesco who effectively cancels the 2-2. Spezia tries to put it to sleep, but in the 98th minute yet another episode arrives with Soleri still the protagonist: the Rosanero striker is brought down by Bertola and Fourneau points to the spot. The VAR intervenes again, the referee returns to the monitor, there is a red light for Bertola but the foul is out and is therefore not a penalty. A movie-like ending ends with Stulac’s free kick, which translates into a perfect stroke that ends his run on goal in the 104th minute. It’s 2-2. Palermo never dies. Rosanero -3 behind Parma in first place and with a game to recover, Spezia mocked and still in the middle of the play-out fray.