Torino defeated Pescara 4-1 at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino in the third round of the Coppa Italia.
Surprisingly, the Delfini took the lead with a goal by Michele Fornasier after a quarter hour, but two goals by Daniele Baselli and Afriyie Acquah in the span of six minutes turned the result around before halftime. In the second half, strikes by Maxi Lopez and Josef Martinez crushed Pescara and sent Torino through to the next round.
After missing two early opportunities, the Serie B representative went in front after 17 minutes on a goal by centre back Michele Fornasier. He was left completely unmarked after a corner and headed the ball on goal, where the Granata’s goalkeeper Salvador Ichazo got a touch on it but could not prevent the goal.
Giampiero Ventura’s team came back in the match with a goal by Baselli 10 minutes later. The veteran forward Fabio Quagliarella found the young Italian brilliantly in the box and he beat Vincenzo Fiorillo with a well-placed shot.
The equaliser turned the initiative over to Torino and six minutes later they took the lead, not without some luck. A speedy attack by the Granata finished with an effort on by Acquah from the edge of the box. The Ghanaian midfielder’s effort was brilliantly blocked by a Pescara defender, but eventually ended up in his feet again and he made no mistake on his second attempt, beating Fiorillo with a powerful low shot.
Torino came off the break as the better team and halfway through the second half, Maxi Lopez put the result beyond a doubt by tapping in a ball spilled by Fiorillo after Quagliarella’s powerful low cross from the right.
Shortly after, Martinez made it 4-1 by finishing a wonderful solo run with a strong shot in the lower left corner of Pescara’s goal.
