Serie B 2013/14 Review – Play-off Semi Final First Legs

Date: 9th June 2014 at 10:11pm
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The identity of the two sides that will contest for the third and final promotion berth remains very much a mystery, with both play-off semi-finals still firmly in the balance at the midway stage.

Bari came into Sunday’s encounter with Latina in excellent form with ten wins from 12 matches that culminated in a 3-0 win over Crotone at the quarter final stage. However, a bumper San Nicola crowd of over 50,000 were stunned into silence midway through the first half after Diego Polenta unwittingly turned the ball into his own net.

Having trailed for close to an hour, the Biancorossi eventually levelled midway through the second half when Edgar Cani met Stefano Sabelli’s deep cross from the right with a firm header, and a dramatic turnaround looked to have been complete ten minutes from time when Joao Silva stabbed home a loose ball from close range.

With proceedings coming to a close, Latina salvaged a dramatic 2-2 draw through a Stefan Ristovski thunderbolt from the edge of the area.

The action will now shift to Latina’s Stadio Domenico Francioni, which whilst unable to command the same numbers as Bari’s iconic home, is no less vociferous in support as a result. Needing a win to progress, Bari now once again face a tall order to secure what would be one of the more remarkable promotions in recent memory.

CesenaThere was something of a surprise in the other semi-final meanwhile, with Cesena emerging from their trip to Modena with a slender one goal advantage. Modena’s appearance in the play-offs is largely attributable to their home form throughout the campaign, with 12 of their 16 league wins coming within the confines of the Stadio Alberto Braglia.

It was a run that continued with a 1-0 quarter final win over Spezia last week, but just as Bari were silenced early on, so too were Modena when Guido Marilungo steered home from close range having met Andre Defrel’s low centre from the right.

In a busy first half for both keepers, Salvatore Molina saw a terrific effort punched clear by Cesena keeper Federico Agliardi, while his opposite number Carlo Pinsoglio had to be alert to prevent Defrel from doubling the visitor’s advantage.

The drama continued into the second half, with Cesena’s Roberto Gagliardini picking up a debatable second caution following a coming together with Tommaso Bianchi on the edge of the area.

Incensed at having been awarded a free kick rather than a penalty, Modena coach Walter Novellino was sent to the stands. His outrage would not have been helped when from the ensuing free kick Salvatore Burrai agonisingly shaved the top of the crossbar.

The Canarini continued to push for an equaliser, but to no avail, and will head to Cesena hoping that a poor record away from doesn’t continue to hamper their promotion aspirations.

Hoping to stay in Serie B meanwhile are Novara and Varese, whose miserable campaigns have led to the ignominy of a two legged relegation play-out. With one leg played, it is Novara whose grip on their second tier status is looking increasingly precarious.

A goal in either half from Leonardo Pavoletti, so often Varese’s saviour throughout this campaign, has left Novara staring an almost certain relegation in the face.

It is a sad demise for a club that just three years ago were celebrating back to back promotions and a first Serie A campaign in over half a century. Beaten in the promotion play-offs last season, the Biancoazzurri never really recovered, and barring an astonishing turnaround, look destined for another spell in the third tier.

 

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