Venezia stretches, Monza thrilling draw in Catanzaro
Venice stretches, Monza slows down in Catanzaro (where it picks up only a point, the result, moreover, of a penalty as time expires) and the Brianzoli momentarily lose second place. The other Serie B playoff candidates on the pitch on Easter Monday, from Modena to Cesena, however, do not take advantage. Smiling instead are the noble decadents Bari, Sampdoria and Pescara, all victorious in a salvation race that seems to enjoy shuffling its cards week after week.
Venice confirms itself as Serie B’s lone leader, trembling only for a handful of seconds against an otherwise fearsome Juve Stabia. At St. Helena, the Laggunarians took the lead thanks to an own goal by Giorgini at 39′ and conceded Carissoni’s equalizer at 45′. Already in the recovery of the first half, however, they score again with Adorante, who also has the luxury of missing a penalty before completing his personal double at 74′.
Everything happens in Catanzaro, where Pontisso pierces Monza at 6′. However, the hosts remain ten men down as early as 36′, for a direct red against Alesi. Cutrone evened up the man count at 48′, then the Brianzoli found themselves even down to nine when Keita Balde was also sent off. The end of the game was crazy: Matias Antonini’s possible double was cancelled out for a foul, and on the other side came a penalty that Pessina converted at 96′. But Ceravolo’s 1-1 probably displeases everyone.
The Calabrian team at least does not see itself joined in the standings by Modena, which collapses in Bari: Moncini’s penalty, Adorni’s own goal and Cuni’s goal make the biancorossi fly, Ambrosino in the final only manages to close the score at 3-1. Between Cesena and Südtirol, on the other hand, it all happened in less than 20 minutes: Tait put the guests ahead at 3′, Davi forced them to equalize with an own goal at 17′.
Bari’s success was answered, however, by Sampdoria, which, thanks to Pierini (58′), knocked out Empoli 1-0 at Marassi and overtook them in the standings. Just 4 points behind the Tuscans is Pescara, thanks to a crucial 3-1 win over Reggiana: Olzer, Lorenzo Insigne and Meazzi scored for the guests, Lambourde for the hosts. Mantova needed only Marras to beat Virtus Entella (1-0), while between Carrarese and Spezia the goal count ended 3-1 and as many as ten to eight men on the pitch after a very tense end of the match.
