Pescara set aside the distraction of being named as one of the clubs under investigation in connection with the Scommesopoli scandal to go top of the table with a sensational 2-0 victory over Torino.
The Delfini were one of ten sides in Serie B – along with Albinoleffe, Ascoli, Empoli, Grosseto, Livorno, Modena, Padova, Reggina and Sampdoria – to be named as part of the investigation into match fixing that has threatened to significantly alter the way the league table looks should any club be found guilty of wrongdoing, and have the strictest sanctions imposed upon them.
However, provided Pescara can emerge from the investigation with their reputation intact, their promotion to Serie A could be confirmed on Tuesday evening, should they beat Livorno and Sassuolo fail to win at Torino.
Sassuolo’s own hopes of automatic promotion were dealt a blow this weekend as they could only manage a goalless draw at Livorno, and it would now appear that the Neroverdi are likely to be heading for the play-offs.
Elsewhere, Varese and Sampdoria need just one more win each to be guaranteed of a place in the play-offs after picking up wins over Ascoli and Juve Stabia respectively.
Meanwhile, Gubbio’s relegation to Lega Pro was confirmed with a 3-0 defeat to Padova, while it now looks to be any two from Nocerina, Vicenza and Livorno who will be joining them in the third tier next season.
Friday 11th May
Bari 2 – 2 Brescia
Brescia’s hopes of a play-off place were ended on Friday evening as they twice relinquished the lead to draw at Bari.
The visitors took the lead in the 11th minute, as Omar El Kaddouri cut into the area from the right before guiding the ball into the path of Federico Piovacarri, whose first time strike left Bari keeper Eugenio Lamanna stranded.
An excellent save from Brescia keeper Michele Arcari denied Fernando Martin Forestieri from close range, before Agostino Garofalo drew Bari level on the half hour mark with a composed left-footed strike from inside the area.
Brescia needed just five minutes to reclaim the lead however, as Sebastien De Maio controlled with his chest six-yards from goal, before dispatching a superb volley into the bottom corner on the turn.
However, they were again pegged back just five minutes after the restart, as Claiton Dos Santos defied the Brescia offside trap to head into the bottom corner from close range.
Forestieri saw a volley from distance saved by Arcari, who again had to be at his best to deny substitute Luis Pedro Cavanda’s point blank effort, as Bari looked the likelier of the two sides to claim a winner, but ultimately the spoils were shared.
Saturday 12th May
Crotone 3 – 1 Nocerina
Nocerina’s hopes of beating the drop were dealt a blow with a damaging defeat at Crotone, who are now mathematically safe from relegation.
Luigi Castaldo forced Crotone keeper Vid Belec into a fine early save with a powerful drive from distance, before again being denied from close range as the visitors looked to build upon their recent good form.
At the other end, Nocerina keeper Emanuele Concetti had to be at full stretch to punch away Camillo Ciano’s long range strike as it arrowed towards the bottom corner, and keep the game goalless at the break.
Both sides continued to trade blows into the second half, with Florenzi denied by Concetti, and Castaldo again denied by Belec at his near post.
However, with the game seemingly heading towards a stalemate, a late flurry of goals began in the 75th minute, as Florenzi cut the ball back into the path of Caetano who gave the hosts the lead from six-yards out.
The lead was extended seven minutes later as Camillo Ciano unleashed an unstoppable free kick into the top corner from long range.
Nocerina pulled one back in the second minute of injury time when Roberto Di Maio fired home from the edge of the box, but any hopes of snatching a late point were dashed two minutes later when Denilson Martinho Gabionetta rounded Concetti before steering the ball into the empty net.
Empoli 1 – 1 Vicenza
A second half equaliser from Antonio Busce gave Empoli their 19th draw of the season, meaning that one win from their last two matches will guarantee survival.
The visitors were also in desperate need of the points as they too look to beat the drop, and Michele Paolucci almost put them ahead early on with a good strike from distance that went inches over the bar.
Mattia Mustacchio’s strike from just outside the area was well blocked as Vicenza dominated, and their persistence was rewarded five minutes before the break as Paolucci cut in behind Daniele Ficagna before steering the ball past Empoli keeper Alberto Frison.
Empoli finally started to impose themselves on proceedings as the second half got underway, with Riccardo Saponara firing an effort just over the bar from an acute angle in the area.
They were level in the 64th minute when substitute Flavio Lazzari swung a superb cross into the path of Busce, who volleyed home in sensational style with his right foot.
Mustacchio saw his low drive from the edge of the area easily smothered by Frison, as Vicenza pushed for a much needed winner, and their hopes were given a boost with seven minutes remaining as Lazzari was dismissed for a clash with Davide Gavazzi,
However, they could not make the numerical advantage count, and Empoli held on for a vital point, leaving Vicenza with plenty to do if they are to beat the drop.
Juve Stabia 1 – 2 Sampdoria
Substitute Mauro Emanuel Icardi struck a late winner to keep Sampdoria on course for a place in the play-offs.
The Vespe were ahead inside the opening minute when the ball fell kindly to Antonio Zito just two yards from goal, who rifled into the net after Angelo Da Costa saved his initial effort.
Marco Sau struck an effort into the side netting, before Diego Falcinellii saw his shot rebound wide off the post as the home side completely dominated the opening proceedings.
The Blucerchiati finally started to impose themselves on the game, with Graziano Pelle almost connecting with a header two yards from goal, and Pasquale Foggia firing just over from distance.
With half time approaching, Pelle saw a close range volley superbly blocked by Donovan Maury’s last ditch tackle, and the home side went in at the beak with their lead intact.
The visitors drew level just five minutes after the restart, as Foggia’s brilliant free kick from distance rebounded back into play off the crossbar, and Gianni Munari kept his composure to guide the ball into the net with his head.
With 66 minutes played, Pelle was shown his second yellow of the afternoon for a deliberate handball, forcing the visitors to play the remainder of the match with just ten men.
The hosts almost took advantage, but were denied by a miraculous double save from Da Costa to keep out first Sau then substitute Nicolas Horacio Erpen from close range, and with just six minutes remaining, Icardi steered home from close range to give Sampdoria three vital points.
Livorno 0 – 0 Sassuolo
Sassuolo dropped two points in their clash with Livorno, meaning a positive result against Torino on Tuesday is now essential if their hopes of automatic promotion are to be kept alive.
The visitors started on the front foot, and almost went ahead through Nicolo Consolini, but his header sailed just wide of Francesco Bardi’s left-hand post, while Richmond Boakye scuffed an effort wide from a good position.
Livorno needed the points as desperately as their opponents however, and only a good save from Alberto Pomini prevented Federico Dionisi’s powerful drive from close range from giving them the lead.
The home side were denied a penalty when it appeared that Isaac Cofie had handled in the area, but referee Renzo Candussio waved away the appeals and the score stayed level at the break.
Simone Missiroli volleyed towards the bottom corner early in the second half, but Bardi reacted quickly to push the ball wide, before producing another miraculous save to keep out Alessando Longhi’s header.
At the other end, substitute Luca Siligardi unleashed a ferocious effort from distance, but Pomini was at full stretch to palm the ball away, as both keepers stamped their authority on the match.
With time running out, Sassuolo’s Gennaro Troianiello volleyed wide from just outside the area, and Siligardi blasted over from a good position, meaning that both sides had to be content with a point.
Modena 2 – 1 Grosseto
A last gasp winner from Davide Di Gennaro saw Modena edge this mid-table clash with Grosseto, as both sides look to end a difficult season on a high.
The visitors took the lead in the third minute, as Ferdinando Sforzini’s spectacular volley from the edge of the area left Modena keeper Nicholas Caglioni with no chance as it flew into the bottom corner.
Luis Maria Alfageme almost extended the lead soon after, but his low strike was well saved at his near post by Caglioni.
Marco Calderoni almost headed into his own net to gift Modena an equaliser, but was relieved to see the ball bounce back off the post, before Antonio Narciso produced a fine save to deny Marco Cellini from the rebound.
In the second half, Maurizio Ciaramitaro went agonisingly close to equalising with a header the bounced inches wide of the post, before Narciso produced another good save to keep out Di Gennaro’s long range free kick.
However, the hosts finally drew level with 12 minutes remaining, as Marco Cellini steered the ball below the reach of Narciso following a goalmouth scramble resulting from a corner.
The comeback was completed in the 92nd minute, as Di Gennaro headed home at the back post from two yards out to give the home side three welcome points.
Pescara 2 – 0 Torino
Pescara went a point clear at the top of the table with a sensational victory over title-chasing Torino.
The Delfini took the lead in the tenth minute, as Marco Verratti launched a long ball forward into the path of Lorenzo Insigne, and the in-form forward coolly rounded Torino keeper Francesco Benussi before steering the ball into the empty net.
Torino were rattled, but almost drew level soon after through Cristian Pasquato, whose right footed volley from distance sailed just wide of Riccardo Ragni’s post, before Angelo Obinze Ogbonna saw his close range header saved.
In the second minute of first half stoppage time, Ciro Immobile extended the hosts lead with a header from close range following a fine cross into the area from Damiano Zanon.
It was a killer blow for Torino, who wilted in the second half, and would have fallen further behind had both Insigne and Immobile both steered early shots wide of the post.
Insigne again put an effort wide from an excellent position six-yards from goal, before Alessandro Sgrigna almost pulled one back for Torino with a close range effort that was well saved by Ragni.
However, the hosts held on for their fifth straight win, and could be promoted to Serie A as early as Tuesday, if they defeat Livorno and Sassuolo fail to beat Torino.
Padova 3 – 0 Gubbio
Gubbio’s relegation was confirmed with a 3-0 defeat to Padova, a result that just about keeps alive Padova’s hopes of claiming a play-off place.
Francesco Lunardini spurned a good chance to give Gubbio a vital early lead, volleying over from a good position inside the area.
They were made to pay in the 17th minute, as Raffaele Schiavi volleyed home in superb style from just inside the area to give Padova a lead they would not relinquish.
Aniello Cutolo saw a powerful effort well blocked by Antonio Caracciolo, and Daniele Cacia twice struck the upright as Padova looked to put the result beyond doubt before half time.
Mattia Graffiedi’s long range effort was well saved by Mattia Perin early in a second half during which Gubbio rarely looked like scoring, and they fell further behind in the 62nd minute, as poor decision making saw keeper Marco Farabbi stranded, allowing Cacia to hook the ball into an empty net.
Gubbio’s fate was sealed in the 89th minute, as Cutolo casually rounded Farabbi before guiding the ball into the net.
However, having spent most of the season in the play-off positions, Padova now need to win their remaining two fixtures, and hope that Sampdoria lose both of theirs if they are to have any hopes of making it into Serie A this season.
Reggina 3 – 3 Cittadella
An entertaining encounter between two sides with nothing left to play for this season ended in a high scoring draw.
Both sides traded blows from the beginning, and it was the hosts who edged ahead after 34 minutes when Marco Armellino headed into the top corner from inside the area having leapt to meet Simone Rizzato’s excellent cross from the left.
However, Cittadella were level less than a minute later, as Simone Ciancio bulleted a header into the top corner following a deep corner from the left, and the sides went in all square at the break.
The visitors were ahead five minutes after the restart, as Samuel Di Carmine slammed home a left footed volley from six-yards out after Emerson had failed to clear.
Alessio Viola drew Reggina level again two minutes after emerging from the bench with a powerful shot that arrowed into the bottom corner of the net.
Chances for both sides continued to come thick and fast, and DI Carmine again edged Cittadella ahead in the 75th minute with a brilliant right footed strike that skidded across the turf and into the bottom corner.
However, Viola completed the scoring two minutes later, stabbing the ball home from just two yards out after it had been spilled by Cittadella keeper Alex Cordaz, and a breathless encounter finished all square.
Varese 4 – 0 Ascoli
Varese need just one point from their remaining two fixtures to guarantee a play-off place following a convincing home win over Ascoli.
Neto Pereira picked up an early booking for attempting to punch the ball into the Ascoli net under the guise of a diving header. It was a cynical attempt that would have been disallowed had it gone in, but nevertheless drew a superb save from Enrico Guarna.
Varese keeper Walter Bressan produced a fine double save to deny efforts from both Manuel Scalise and Alessandro Sbaffo, as Ascoli went in search of the victory that would all but secure their survival.
The deadlock was finally broken ten minutes before the break, as Fabrizio Cacciatore headed home from close range having met a superb cross from Emanuel Benito Rivas.
That lead was extended in the 44th minute as Pereira steered a first time effort past Guarna from close range having met Gianpietro Zecchin’s perfectly weighted through-ball.
Pereira grabbed his second of the match five minutes after the restart, heading home from close range after Magnus Troest had headed the ball back across the face of goal following a corner.
Papa Waigo saw a snapshot saved by Bressan, and Sbaffo fired just over, before the rout was completed in the 86th minute when Pablo Granoche fired home from the penalty spot having been bundled over in the box by Sinisa Andelkovic, who picked up a soft straight-red for his troubles.
