Serie C: Mantova falls. Triestina and Spal, the benches are missing

Here’s everything that happened on Sunday in Serie C, in which two prestigious benches were lost: that of Triestina (group A) and that of Spal (group B), which recalled Mimmo Di Carlo.

group a

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Mantua falls, having won eight in the previous nine matches. The league leaders slipped to Zanica (2-1) with AlbinoLeffe, good at defending themselves and taking advantage of the positive episodes: in the second half the hosts broke the deadlock with Zoma – when Mantova was provisionally down to 10 men due to an injury – and doubled their lead with Longo, then the usual Galuppini shortens but it is too late (for Mantova two woodwork hit, one in each half). However, Padova only partially took advantage of Possanzini’s team’s slip-up: the 1-1 draw on the Virtus Verona pitch felt like a missed opportunity, with Varas responding from the spot to Juanito Gomez’s opener. None of the top three are smiling at the showdown, given that Triestina also loses to Pro Patria (2-1 in Fontanafredda, a defeat that costs Attilio Tesser the bench): Redan responds to Pitou’s initial guest advantage, but the Pro celebrates in the second half thanks to Guillaume Renault. The 1-1 draw between Pro Vercelli and Atalanta U23 was equally entertaining: ahead with the first goal among the greats by Siren Diao – who arrived from Verona in the Hien deal -, in the Nerazzurri they were joined by Rojas (who returned to Vercelli from Crotone in the winter transfer window ) and Vismara thus concedes a goal after five games with the goal unbeaten. Lumezzane’s ascent into the playoff zone continues, as they also overtake Alessandria (2-1, 10 points in the last four games): in the first half Taugourdeau broke the deadlock, doubling the lead from new arrival Mattia Iori, Gazoul narrowed the gap unnecessarily in the second half.

group b

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Big smiles around Cesena, 24 hours after the success of the league leaders over Fermana. In fact, Torres slips again and the Bianconeri’s lead increases to 9 points. At Vanni Sanna – which before today was undefeated – Sestri Levante (1-0) passes, thanks to the penalty converted by Pane at the end of the first half. For Carrarese – now one less than third place – the Calabro treatment works (seven points in three games): Schiavi’s free kick at the end of the first half, deflected off the wall, is enough to beat Olbia. A prestigious bench is also missing in this group: it is that of Spal, which sacks Leonardo Colucci after the defeat of Lucca (2-1, third in a row) which came thanks to Rizzo Pinna’s eighth goal of the championship, after Dalmonte had responded to the Gucher’s Rossoneri Eurogoal. Mimmo Di Carlo was recalled to Spal in his place, having been replaced by Colucci himself. In the 0-0 draw between Arezzo (Catanese post) and Entella, the Ligurians got their fourth draw in a row. Crazy match between Recanatese and Pontedera: the Tuscans prevail (5-4!) dragged by the hat-trick of the Argentinian Delpupo (owned by Cagliari), while the Pagliari team – without a victory for three months – the double of Carpani.

group c

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In the postponement, Auteri’s Benevento continues to fly and climbs to third place alone (waiting for Tuesday’s recovery, Picerno-Catania): the 2-0 at Brindisi was achieved with two headers by January’s offensive reinforcements, Lanini and Starita.