Perugia 2-1 Bologna: The Grifoni win on their return to Serie B

Date: 29th August 2014 at 11:25pm
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Perugia downed a 9-man Bologna 2-1 in a thrilling opening match of the 2014/2015 Serie B campaign at the Stadio Renato Curi on Friday evening.

Valerio Verre and Diego Falcinelli got on the scoresheet for the home side, while Daniele Cacia’s penalty late into the second half proved to be consolation goal for the visitors.

The match marked an important milestone for both sides as the Grifoni are reconstructing after the 2010 bankruptcy demoted the club to Serie D, while the Rossoblu were relegated after six straight seasons in Serie A.

Perugia’s marquee summer signing, Rodrigo Taddei, had the match’s first golden chance when the Brazilian blazed his volley over the crossbar inside of 10 minutes.

On-loan Fiorentina midfielder Nicolo Fazzi had the next great opportunity when he showed wonderful control chesting a long ball down in the area but his left-footed effort was batted away by Ferdinando Coppola.

The squads went into the dressing room after an entertaining half where each side was able to move the ball and establish rhythm but with sporadic goal-mouth action.

The second half started brightly for the home side with Taddei and Lorenzo Del Prete each getting clear-cut chances to put their side ahead within minutes of the restart, but both chances were pulled wide.

Verre broke the deadlock four minutes after the hour mark when he received a pass just inside the penalty area and his stinging right-footed shot was buried in the corner of Coppola’s net.

Things turned ugly a few minutes later when Gyorgy Garics received his marching orders after reacting sarcastically to a refereeing decision, seconds after receiving a booking.

Perugia began dominating the match, buoyed by their numerical advantage, and Taddei and Falcinelli both had golden opportunities to stretch the lead but their efforts were just off target.

The match seemed a foregone conclusion when Falcinelli beat a defender in the box and slotted it past Coppola five minutes from time, putting the Grifoni up 2-0.

With the match winding down and seemingly under control, Cacia found himself in the Perugia 18-yard box when Edoardo Goldaniga took the former Hellas Verona man down and the 32-year old veteran’s subsequent spot kick was duly converted.

It would not be enough however, as Bologna’s Franco Zuculini saw red for a brutal foul on Falcinelli after only just entering as a substitute seven minutes prior.

 

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