Serie B, more playoff verdicts come in. At the tail end is a tussle with one day to go
The thirty-eighth day of the Serie B championship (in fact the penultimate, since the thirty-fourth will be made up on Tuesday, May 13) issues other important verdicts in terms of playoffs, starting with Cremonese, which beating Spezia at the ‘Picco’ 3-2 has arithmetically qualified for the semifinals, thus skipping the first round of the postseason with both feet.
The Grigiorossi dominated the first half, closing it ahead by three goals with Barbieri (13′), Azzi (17′) and Vandeputte (43′) on the scoreboard. Red for double caution to Bianchetti, however, left Giovanni Stroppa’s team in ten and Spezia shortened with Francesco Pio Esposito at 69′ and Lapadula on a penalty kick at 74′. From there, however, the result did not change anymore.
Still speaking of playoffs, in the first round in addition to Juve Stabia (defeated by Reggiana 2-1 at home, Girma’s double and Adorante’s goal for the Vespas) there will be Catanzaro, which beat the already promoted Sassuolo 2-0 at ‘Mapei Stadium‘ (scored Biasci and Bonini) and Palermo (2-0 at Frosinone, two goals for Matteo Brunori).
The’last useful playoff spot will be contested by Cesena and Bari, with the Romagnoli, however, having a no small advantage having beaten Cosenza 1-0 (decisive goal by Simone Bastoni) just as the Galletti sank at home to Cittadella (illusory lead by Favilli, then comeback signed by Rabbi, Palmierie Pandolfi). Bari, in the last round, will have to beat Sudtirol hoping that Cesena loses in Modena.
Everything is still to be decided in the salvation zone, Cosenza relegation aside: Mantova’s victory over Carrarese 2-1 (Mancuso and Debenedetti for the Virgilians, Finotto for the Giallazzurri) is very important; the point snatched by Brescia in Modena (2-2 with Calvani fixing the score at 89’after Caso and Di Pardo had initially overturned Cauz’s own goal) is also weighing heavily. Sampdoria hopes, which put Salernitana in trouble: by Meulensteen at 46′ of the first half the goal that earned the Blucerchiata victory at the ‘Ferraris’.
Closing the evening report is the’other promoted to A, Pisa, protagonist of a thrilling 3-3 draw against Sudtirol: bolzanini ahead 2-0 with Mallamo and Gori on a penalty, Lind shortened before Pietrangeli’s 3-1; Sernicola and Rus, the latter at 93′ signed the comeback that was worth the equalizer.
Ranking with one day to go: Sassuolo 82; Pisa 73; Spezia 63; Cremonese 61; Juve Stabia 54; Catanzaro 52; Palermo 51; Cesena 50; Bari 47; Modena and Sudtirol 45; Reggiana, Carrarese 44; Mantova 43; Brescia, Sampdoria and Frosinone 40; Salernitana and Cittadella 39; Cosenza 30.
