It was a David and Goliath battle at the Stadio Sandro Cabassi as bottom-dwellers Crotone put a scare into pace setters Carpi before succumbing 2-1 on Saturday and thus securing Carpi’s stranglehold on Serie B. 
Mihai Balasa earned the visitors a penalty kick as he split Aljaz Struna and Lorenzo Pasciuti and was taken down in the area. Ernesto Torregrossa converted the spot kick for his sixth goal of the season, gifting the Rossoblu a lead inside of five minutes.
Although the Biancorossi appeared shocked from surrendering the early lead, they responded immediately with a pair of headers, including a gilt-edged opportunity from talisman Jerry Mbakogu who risked a brutal collision with Crotone keeper Alex Cordaz. The visitors went into the dressing room ahead despite only threatening the Carpi goal once in the opening stanza as Federico Ricci was unable to stretch and slot a cross into an empty net.
Carpi came out fired up after Fabrizio Castori’s half-time speech and immediately equalized when Mbakogu outran his defender and slotted a perfect cross to Antonio Di Gaudio who was able to manage the slightest of touches into the far corner.
Cordaz made some terrific stops to keep Crotone in the match but could do nothing to save Mbakogu’s penalty earned when Bruno Martella brought down Filippo Porcari in the box and the Nigerian converted for his 13th goal of the season, putting the 22-year old level in capocannonieri race with Emanuele Calaio.
Pescara stopped Bologna’s four-match winning streak in a listless 0-0 draw at the Stadio Dall’Ara. The Delfini have proven resilient road opposition this season amassing 19 points in only 13 matches away from their Abruzzo home.
Brescia smashed Virtus Entella 3-0 as the Rondinelle picked up their first clean sheet in 20 matches and holding a feeble Diavolo Neri side to a single shot on goal. Ahmad Benali put the hosts up on top in the first quarter hour before a second-half brace for Daniele Corvia moved a struggling Brescia side temporarily out of the relegation places and keeping Entella battling for their Serie B lives.
Catania downed Perugia 2-0 at home to notch consecutive victories for only the second time all season as the Etnei appear poised to reverse what has been a forgettable return to Serie B under new coach Dario Marcolin. New signing Riccardo Maniero scored, his second in as many matches with the Sicilian club, and Calaio sealed the Grifone’s fate in the second half.
Trapani dropped their fourth straight match and first under new coach Roberto Boscaglia as the Granata were lifeless in a 1-0 loss to Cittadella as Claudio Coralli converted his first half spot kick to lift Citta off the foot of the table. The loss weighs even heavier on Trapani knowing they host Carpi on Friday evening in a desperate attempt to recapture their early season form.
Varese upset Lanciano 2-1 bringing home a crucial three points and bagging their first road win of the season.
Latina derailed a Livorno side fresh off impressive consecutive victories and giving Mark Iuliano his first victory in a 3-2 thriller at the Stadio Francioni.
In other action Pro Vercelli drew 1-1 at home against Modena and Vicenza traveled to Ternana to earn a 2-0 victory leaving the Rossoverdi with the worst home record in the league.
