The first leg of the Serie B Playoff final ended in a 0-0 draw between Pescara and Bologna on Friday night at the Stadio Adriatico.
The match was lacking in the form of action with neither team really creating clear-cut chances.
Pescara started the match with the better possession but it was the visitors that registered the first shot on goal. Mattia Mancosu laid the ball off to Karim Laribi but his shot went high over the bar.
The home side were playing the better football but just couldn’t find the final pass, up the other end the Rossoblu had another chance as Marcel Buchel shot from range but it was easily saved by Vincenzo Fiorillo.
The two teams went into the break level, which was probably the right scoreline based on each teams attacking intent.
Just before the hour mark, Laribi went in on goal but his effort lacked power and just evaded the far post.
Five minutes later the game was close to it’s first goal. A ball was whipped towards the back post and Federico Melchiorri headed against the post to almost give the Delfini the lead.
The hosts seemed to show a bit more urgency in their attacks and Christian Pasquato had an effort from around 30 yards which skimmed the top of the crossbar.
Minutes later, Mancosu found himself one-one on with Fiorillo but from a tight angle his shot was thwarted by the foot of the goalkeeper.
Despite late pressure from Bologna, the home side held out for a draw and will travel to the Stadio Renato Dell’Ara on Tuesday night for the elusive last spot in next year’s Serie A season.
