Spice does the Jannik Sinner right against the South Tyroleans
Spezia like Jannik Sinner, just when they find themselves playing against an opponent from Alto Adige. The Ligurians try to lift a standings situation that remains extremely complicated in Serie B, and they do so by handing a defeat heavy in proportions to the hapless Südtirol, which at the Picco stadium falls with the result of 6-1. Numbers resembling a real set, which once in a while punishes the contender originating from the land that gave birth to the world’s number 1 tennis player.
For Spezia, the match went downhill as early as the 8′ minute, thanks to the lead signed by Valoti on a penalty kick. Südtirol reacted and found the equalizer in 20′ thanks to Pecorino, however, finding themselves in ten men already in 23′ after a direct red against Zedadka. Easy then for the hosts to score twice more before halftime, with Di Serio on 25′ and Beruatto on 33′. Then in the second half, the experienced Lapadula (70′), Sernicola (73′) and Aurelio (82′) “closed the set.” Without Sinner’s countrymen even managing to procure a “break ball” that could reopen the contest even on paper.
By virtue of this very heavy result, Spezia rises to 33 points and moves back to -3 from the salvation zone (currently closed by Empoli, which will receive Virtus Entella in Tuscany on Sunday). Remaining at 40 is Südtirol, whose prospects of shortening on the playoff zone suffer an abrupt setback: eighth-ranked Cesena remains at +4.
It must be said that both of this day’s protagonists arrived at the Picco fixture with some dross to work off. Südtirol had already crossed Spezia at a delicate moment of their season, while the Ligurians were coming off a troubled period on the bench, with the return of D’Angelo after Donadoni’s exoneration. It was precisely the coach from La Spezia who had already led the team in the heavy 3-1 loss suffered at home to Carrarese on Easter Monday, a match that ended with a very tense ending and as many as ten men against eight on the pitch. The 6-1 win over Südtirol thus represents a clear and unequivocal response, almost a declaration of intent in terms of salvation.
It is no coincidence that among the protagonists of the success is Pecorino on the visiting side: the Südtirol striker, author of the momentary equalizer, is a player the sports judge knows well. In recent weeks he had already come under the crosshairs of discipline, disqualified for one turn after picking up his fifth caution of the season. It’s a profile that reflects the combative but often over-the-top character of a Südtirol side that, again today, paid dearly for its impetuosity: the direct red to Zedadka at 23′ effectively broke any hopes of a South Tyrolean comeback.
With four days to go in the regular season, Spezia’s schedule now becomes crucial. The Ligurians, who have to make up three points on the salvation zone, will already know that their next commitments include a home challenge against Venezia, the leaders with 72 points and now projected toward Serie A. A tough obstacle on paper, but soccer – as today’s 6-1 win teaches precisely – knows how to reserve surprises when you least expect them. First, however, there is Sunday’s round, with Empoli awaited by Virtus Entella: a favorable result for the Tuscans would further lengthen the distance and make the Bianconeri’s road to salvation even more impassable.
