Monza returns to Serie A with a thrill, Catanzaro surrenders after touching the dream
The purgatory lasted only a year: Monza immediately returned to Serie A by winning the last available place through the playoffs. Bianco’s team took a huge risk in the last decisive challenge against Catanzaro: after the 0-2 first leg in Calabria, promotion seemed within reach for the Brianzoli, who instead suffered the guests, who were able to come back two goals through Jack and Frosinini. Aquilani’s lineup, however, lacked the third goal at the U-Power Stadium and at the triple whistle Monza was promoted by virtue of the better league standings: a painless defeat for the biancorossi, who thus ascend back to the top flight.
In the beginning of the first half, Monza started aggressively and created two sharp chances with Cutrone, foiled by the Catanzaro defense. The Calabrese try to play the game, while Bianco’s team acts on the throw-in, trying to manage the double advantage of the first leg. At 40′, however, the first jolt arrives: on a free kick taken by Pontisso from the left, Fellipe Jack jumps higher than anyone and heads it past Thiam. The hosts staggered and Liberali went within a step of 2-0 five minutes later, Thiam this time was good at saving everything. In the end of the half Pessina with a conclusion from the limit grazes the crossbar of the posts.
The resumption is played on the razor’s edge, the rhythms are very high and Catanzaro believes in it: at 55′ Iemmello misses in front of Thiam, a few minutes later it is Monza to come close to equalizing with Colombo, who forces Pigliacelli to a great save. The Brianzoli suffer the determined action of the guests, and create again at 65′ with Liberali and Iemmello, both inaccurate.
At 79′ comes the 0-2 that reopens all the promotion talk and freezes the U-Power Stadium: Aquilani’s team finds a crucial goal with Frosinini, scoring with a header on Favasuli’s cross. Catanzaro threw itself to the sword in search of the promotion goal, while in the stands its fans went wild.
Finale incandescente, nervousness rises on the field and cautions flow. In the 88th minute Iemmello on Pompetti’s cross fails to center the goal from a favorable position, Monza defends itself with its teeth and on the counterattack wastes with Colombo: the triple whistle is a liberation for the biancorossi, who immediately return to Serie A after the year spent in the cadet division.
