Bologna and Carpi continued their climb to promotion with impressive victories while 10-man Spezia fought back twice to earn a well deserved draw in Serie B action on Saturday.
Bologna handed new Livorno coach Cristian Panucci his second consecutive loss, defeating the Amaranto 2-0 behind a comprehensive effort at the Stadio Dall’Ara on second half strikes by Marios Oikonomou and Gianluca Sansone.
In an attempt break his squad’s 500-minute home goal drought, coach Diego Lopez switched to a 3-5-2 formation as his troops took the entire first half to find their offensive rhythm, though they had little problem controlling a Livorno side which seemed devoid of ideas.
The breakthrough came a quarter hour after the break when Livorno keeper Luca Mazzoni collided with his own defender while trying to punch clear a free kick and the ball dropped kindly for Oikonomou who easily slotted home his fourth of the campaign.
Livorno could find no way back with Bologna buoyed by their goal as both Daniele Cacia and Sansone had great opportunities after the breakthrough. With nearly 10 minutes left in the match Bologna caught Livorno flat-footed as Cacia, with his back to goal, played a great ball to an oncoming Sansone who chested the pass down and cooly finished with his left past a helpless Mazzoni.
Vicenza fought Carpi hard at a sold out Stadio Romeo Menti but succumbed 2-1 to the league leaders thanks to a first half brace by Kevin Lasagna while Andrea Cocco’s 12th of the season provided little consolation for the Berici who dropped their first match since late December, a run of 12 straight matches without a loss.
The hosts had several chances in the first moments but were pegged back when Lasagna beat Nicolo Brighenti to a loose ball and went on a marauding, slalom run before finishing at the far post. Carpi once again showed their class just past the quarter hour when Filippo Porcari’s through ball split a pair of Vicenza defenders and Lasagna’s left-footer ate up Mauro Vigorito for a commanding 2-0 lead.
Carpi pressed their hosts hard after the second goal but Pasquale Marino’s men fought back with Cocco coming close to scoring and Lorenzo Laverone’s well-placed effort saved artfully by Gabriel.
The Berici clawed back into the contest just after the second half when Federico Moretti and Davide Di Gennaro played a one-two around the Carpi defense and, as Gabriel plowed into Di Gennaro, the ball fell to Cocco who slotted home another goal. It was not meant to be for Vicenza who continued testing the young Brazilian on loan from AC Milan but couldn’t find an equalizer.
Spezia clawed back on two separate occasions at the Stadio Alberto Picco against Pescara despite playing nearly the entire second half down a man in a thrilling 2-2 draw which saw both sides stay in the hunt for a playoff position.
