Spezia-Salernitana 1-1: own goal from Caldara and goal from Shomurodov

From our correspondent Luca Taidelli

April 2nd
– Spice

Never 1-1 salvation was more liar. Because Spezia and Salernitana dominate one half on each side but when the hosts find the well-deserved draw they are not satisfied with climbing to +6 over Verona third from bottom but are looking for victory, as confirmed by the sensational woodwork hit in the final by Maldini (best in field) and Ekdal. After a great first half of the match but rewarded only by Caldara’s own goal, Salernitana didn’t return to the field after the break, collapsed on a mistake by Pirola which gave Shomurodov his first joy in black and white and finished off by thanking his luck.

FIRST HALF

—

Without the disqualified Nzola, Semplici focuses on the trident Gyasi-Shomurodov-Green. In the median the surprise is Kovalenko with Bourabia and Ekdal. Sousa instead lines up Dia and Piatek together in a 3-4-1-2 in which Candreva moves between the lines and Vilhena flanks Coulibaly in the midfield, with Sambia (Mazzocchi is out) and Bradaric on the wings. Salernitana comes out a lot from the blocks and immediately takes over the game with Candreva who does not give Ekdal points of reference, while Vilhena and Coulibaly bring Kovalenko and Bourabia to school with a much higher intensity of play. The match could already unlock in the 11th minute, but Candreva slips on Dia’s scavette in front of Dragpwski and Caldara (whose mistake, however, had triggered the play) can save on the line. Spezia without Nzola is something else, because Shomurodov goes around in circles and never lets his teammates up. Green gets sad on the right, Gyasi at least tries to put in two nice crosses, but the Uzbek first and then Kovalenko don’t materialise. By dint of pushing Sousa’s team found the advantage in the 43rd minute, with Caldara who, in an attempt to anticipate Piatek, mocked Dragowski with a bet in the seven. Good for Semplici that first Candreva touches the post with a great right foot, then Sambia exalts Drago after a solitary initiative and finally Piatek hits the crossbar with a header.

SECOND HALF

—

After the interval, Kovalenko and Verde remained in the changing rooms, replaced by Zurkowski and Maldini, who positioned himself on the top left and immediately gave away a nice number on the back. Now Spezia, revisited with the 4-1-4-1, has another gear because the wingers go to get the full-backs high and the center of gravity rises. Agudelo also enters for the bruised Gyasi, while Sousa responds by removing Piatek for the ex Major, booed and applauded by his old fans, and switching to 3-4-2-1. Time to see Bohinen for Candreva that the match returns to balance for another gelding by a defender. On Coulibaly’s lightening, Pirola in fact smoothes the ball and opens the door wide for Shomurodov, cold in beating Ochoa outgoing with a touch below. Anyone who thinks that a draw at this point could be good for the hosts, who hold Verona to 6 points, is very wrong. Maldini is unleashed, he earns a free-kick from the edge (Daniliuc booked) and then from a standstill he hits a right-footed shot that hits the crossbar. And in the 83rd minute Ekdal, leavened in the second half like a soufflé, on the triangulation with Agudelo takes a sensational inside post. In short, a draw that is good for everyone but which is certainly closer to Semplici.