One of the more remarkable aspects of the Serie B season so far has been the ability of each of the four sides promoted from Lega Pro last summer to adapt so quickly to life at this level, with no fewer than three of them occupying a play-off position at the close of this weekend’s play.
Hailing from the Lazio region, Latina had never before reached the heights of Italy’s second tier until last summer’s 3-1 aggregate play-off victory over Pisa brought an historic promotion. Now, with a little over a quarter of the season left to play, the club sits in the barely believable position of third, one point adrift of an automatic promotion berth.
The club’s form marks a turnaround in the fortunes of coach Roberto Breda, who a little over a year ago was sacked by Vicenza, midway through a season that ultimately ended in relegation. Against Brescia this weekend, his new side were well worth the 2-0 victory that led to a highest ever league position.
Ahead as early as the fourth minute through a fine half volley from former Brescia forward Jonathas, a committed attacking display was again rewarded on the half hour, with Michele Paolucci powering home from close range after Brescia keeper Alessio Cragno had parried a powerful Jonathas header into his path.
Latina’s cause was helped shortly before half time when Ruben Olivera picked up a contentious second yellow card for a debatable dive, and the hosts must have sensed that it was not to be their day when top scorer Andrea Caracciolo twice struck the woodwork before being stretchered off.
His fellow forward Paolo Grossi drew a fine point blank save from Alessandro Iacobucci as Latina held on for three deserved points, and having lost just five times all season, Breda’s side are unmistakably in the hunt for a place in Serie A, a situation that would have seemed absurd at the outset of the campaign.
Just a point ahead of Latina lie Empoli, who were beaten by another side chasing back to back promotions in Avellino. The Biancoverdi’s goal led something of a charmed life during the first half, with Daniele Croce testing the reflexes of Pietro Terracciano, while Francesco Tavano found that his usually immaculate touch evaded him when played through by Massimo Maccarone.
Such profligacy was to prove costly shortly before the hour mark when Camillo Ciano whipped a dangerous corner to the edge of the six-yard box and centre back Armando Izzo rose highest to plant home a powerful header, and it was enough to seal the points as an unusually toothless Empoli drew a blank.
The result lifted Avellino to fifth, level on points with a Virtus Lanciano side whose recent revival came to end with a 1-0 defeat at Bari courtesy of a Luca Ceppitelli midway through the first half. Seventh place Trapani’s hopes of celebrating back to back promotions suffered a blow, with Nico Pulzetti’s second half double proving the difference in their encounter with Siena.
Cesena stay sixth despite falling to a 2-0 defeat at Pescara in Serse Cosmi’s first home game in charge of the Delfini. A first three-point haul in eight games means that the Abruzzo outfit are now just four points shy of a play-off place themselves.
The final play-off berth currently belongs to Crotone, who picked up a 2-0 win at home to Crotone at the same time as Spezia were losing by the same score at Novara. Meanwhile the play-off aspirations of Carpi – the lowest placed of the promoted sides – were dealt a harsh blow with a 3-0 home defeat by relegation threatened Reggina.
Finally, Varese were unable to follow up on last weekend’s remarkable last gasp win in the seven goal thriller with Reggina, falling to much more prosaic 2-0 defeat at Ternana, while it finished 2-2 in the clash between Padova and Modena.
