Frosinone celebrates, Empoli saved in extremis, Pescara, Reggiana and Spezia weep: B verdicts
Frosinone will keep Venezia company in Serie A: this is the most awaited verdict at the top of the cadet league standings after the last of the regular season. The giallazzurri, who overwhelmed Mantova with a clear 5-0 win (Calò on a penalty, Castellini’s own goal, goals by Ghedjemis, Raimondo and Koutsoupias) came within one point of the Lagunari, who won 2-0 over Palermo (Doumbia and Compagnon in goal): for Venezia it is the third Serie B championship victory in its history, after the 1960-61 and 1965-66 editions.
The same Palermo is part of the batch of teams that will contend for the third promotion to the top division: the Rosanero finished fourth behind Monza, which drew 2-2 (Petagna and Delli Carri after Stiven Shpendi’s lead, equalized in the final by the same Italo-Albanian striker) finishing five points away from direct promotion. Brianzoli and Sicilians go directly to the semifinals of the postseason.
Catanzaro, Modena, Juve Stabia and Avellino will play the first round instead. The Giallorossi were defeated by Bari 3-2 at home (Giallorossi lead by Verrengia, Apulian goals by Moncini and Piscopo, the latter the author of a brace, penalty in the final by Koffi), the Canarini lost 1-0 right in Irpinia (Bagheria’s own goal for the playoff qualification of Ballardini’s men) while the Vespas were stopped at 1-1 at home by Südtirol (Gabrielloni’s goal was answered by Crnigoj).
Out of the games, but still safe, were Mantova, Padova and Cesena (Romagnoli beaten at home by the biancoscudati themselves 4-3, with home goals by Cristian Shpendi, Cerri and Shpendi again and goals by Patavini Di Maggio, scoring a brace, Caprari and Seghetti), along with Carrarese, Sampdoria and Entella (the latter victorious 2-1 precisely against the Carrarini thanks to goals by Tirelli and Cuppone that made Zanon’s mark useless).
Also saved by Südtirol despite a dreadful last period of the championship (the last victory remains that of March 3 over Reggiana, then four draws and six defeats), Empoli and Bari will instead be forced to the playout: the Tuscans, in Monza, failed to give continuity to last Friday’s success against Avellino, while the Apulians momentarily avoided the C with a final rush that, however, does not shelter them from further risks.
Finally, Pescara, Reggiana and Spezia say goodbye to the company. Abruzzesi and Aquilotti draw 1-1 in the last round’s direct clashArtistico replied to Faraoni), while the granata emiliani beat Samp already saved 1-0 with Novakovich’s goal, but are forced into a relegation they could have avoided only with a miraculous combination of favorable results.
