Serie B 2014/15 – Playout: Modena rally against Virtus Entella

Date: 30th May 2015 at 11:47pm
Written by:

Modena staged a dramatic comeback to draw Virtus Entella 2-2 at the Stadio Communale and save their Serie B lives in the first leg of the playout on Saturday afternoon.

The Diavoli Neri jumped out to a quick lead on first half strikes by Costa Ferreira and Lorenzo Staiti before Canarini hero Luca Garritano pulled one back before the break and the 21-year old Inter youth product grabbed the second half equalizer to give Modena the advantage heading into the decisive return fixture next week.

The match started brightly with the hosts dictating the pace and pushing Modena back on their heels from the opening whistle. Coach Aflredo Aglietti’s side were nearly immediately rewarded but Cesar’s header was cleared off the line by Modena’s Pablo Granoche.

Estella’s inevitable breakthrough came inside the half hour mark when Ferdinando Sforzini smartly sprung Ferreira into the area between a pair of Gialloblu defenders leaving Carlo Pinsoglio helpless to do anything but fish the ball from the back of his net.

The path to Serie B salvation seemed destined when once again the Canarini defense was split, this time by Staiti, who headed in an Andrea Mazzarini cross to give Entella a commanding 2-0 lead. However, moments before the whistle and against the run of play,  Garritano took advantage of a poor Alessandro Ligi clearance and drilled a shot from outside the area giving the visitors a crucial goal heading into the dressing room.

Modena took the momentum from their late goal and pressed the hosts searching for the crucial equalizer. Francesco Signori nearly cashed in within the first few minutes but Andrea Paroni maintained Entella’s lead with a good save from close range.

The Diavoli Neri’s then came close on Sforzini’s drive which was smartly saved on a great play by Thiago Cionek and it would prove decisive shortly afterward when Garritano completed the comeback on a wonderful volley from outside the box.

Entella could not restore their advantage and must now travel to the Stadio Alberto Braglia next Saturday and win in regulation in order to avoid joining Brescia, Cittadella and Varese in Lega Pro next season.

 

Comments are closed.