Parma ahead: penalties needed, but Spezia falls at Tardini
Parma dreams, suffers and eventually clinches the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia against defending champions Bologna in one of the derbies d’Emilia par excellence. To advance to the round, however, the Ducali had to wait for penalty kicks against a Spezia side that never seemed to give up. At the Tardini the guests equalized with Aurelio the initial Britschgi advantage, went under again after Pellegrino’s goal, but extended the challenge thanks to Lapadula. In the end, errors from the penalty spot by Soleri and Lapadula himself were decisive.
The match begins without any particular excitement or twists and turns until almost the half-hour mark. And it is Spezia that scares the Tardini, with Estevez paving the way for Artistico who, however, fails to beat Suzuki. Moments after the big scare, however, Parma took the lead: credit to Britschgi, who on 26′ took advantage of a loose ball at the edge of the box after a corner by the hosts and came up with a volley that surprised Sarr. But the first half is not over yet.
After the boredom of the beginning of the game, in fact, the twenty minutes before halftime give one twist after another. And in fact, first Sarr denies with a miracle the doubling to Benedyczyak, then at 44′ Aurelio equalizes with a splendid insertion on Vignali’s initiative from the right. Spezia celebrated, but it was short-lived: in the recovery of the fraction Parma took the lead again with Pellegrino after an insistent action in front of the Ligurians’ goal.
In the second half Parma tries to close it out, but fails: Sarr denies Pellegrino a one-two. Then Spezia’s intensity rises, with Lapadula and Comotto engaging Suzuki. The hosts in ten for the direct red to Plicco that the Var confirms at 76′, and Lapadula finds the new draw at 82’82’ that surprises Suzuki and the inattentive Ducal rearguard. Nothing more changes, and in the end penalties reward the Emilian team with Ordonez’s qualifying goal.
