Business from the Reggiana within the friendly walls of Palermo, sixth strength in the championship. Mister Nesta’s Granata went behind in the first half thanks to the ex’s excellent goal Brunori but the rosanero come back in the second half thanks to the magic of a free kick by Portanova and to the missile under the crossroads of capitan Rozzio. After the final whistle there was a big celebration under the stadium 351 granata fans arrived in Sicily: a success away from home against the rosanero, in Serie B, had been missing for 65 years old. The Regia thus put an end to the difficult period by finding three golden points that bring them significantly closer to the direct salvation: now, with only three games left until the end of the regular season, the granata have 7 points ahead of the relegation zone e 6 on that playoffs.
THE MATCH. Nesta proposes again Gondo And Portanova from the start while behind it points up Libutti to replace the injured Sampirisi. Good start from the Granata: after just a minute and a half Gondo he runs away on the edge of offside but is quickly blocked by Nedelcearu at a corner kick. At 5′ Kabashi frees the left foot from outside the area but Pigliacelli he is attentive and clears the ball. However, the great chance for the Granata arrives in the 15th minute: Pieragnolo throws a powerful left from distance, Brunori he probably pushes back with his hands arm the ball in front of his chest (no intervention by the referee or VAR) e Rozzio tries to reiterate the goal from a few meters but has to deal with another excellent intervention from Pigliacelli. Palermo shows up in the area of Satanino around minute 20 with Brunori who tries to surprise the Granata goalkeeper with a right-footed shot that ends up off target. The rosanero slowly take over game control and they come close to scoring with headers from Diakité (diverted from Kabashi) e Nedelcearu. At the half hour mark Brunori puts in an inviting ball for the insertion of Mancuso but Satanino he is quick to intervene and disturb the Rosanero striker. Five minutes pass and… Palermo takes the lead: on a fantastic throw from the back of Lucioni, Brunori takes the time to Libutti and with a splendid follow-up control he avoids Satalino’s exit by depositing his sixteenth center of the championship into the net. The linesman immediately signals the offside but after checking the VAR referee Perenzoni awards the goal to the rosanero: 1-0. At the break we go with the Granata one goal behind. Even in the second half, the beginning is all garnet colored: Portanova he heads a cross from Kabashi coming from the right but Pigliacelli does well to remove the ball from the goal before Gondo’s intervention. On the next corner Rozzio stands out higher than all but Pigliacelli is once again decisive with a great reflection. To get past the rosanero goalkeeper it takes magic: think about it then Portanova who at minute 52 paints a wonderful punishment who slips behind Pigliacelli (not perfect this time): 1-1. Reggiana deservedly found the equalizer, Palermo immediately tried to react but this time the Granata managed to defend themselves with greater incisiveness. Indeed, al minute 66they even find the goal of advantage: Melegoni puts it in the center from the right, Secrets stretches involuntarily for Rozzio with with a precise right on the fly under seven he beats Pigliacelli: 1-2. First goal in the championship for the granata captain and Reggiana ahead of the “Barbera”. Mister Mignani upsets his team by inserting all offensive players at his disposal but Reggiana, with a performance all heart and determination, closed to defend their own goal and rejected every attempt by the Rosanero attackers until the final whistle, also reinforced by the additions of Antiste and Okwonkwo who sacrificed themselves in a big way to defend the 2-1. The Granata thus conquered the Palermo field but above all they found a goal very important victory in the key of salvation which brings Rozzio and his companions to altitude 43 points in the standings, also putting an end to the streak of three consecutive defeats that preceded this treacherous away match. Now head to Derby with the Modenaonly four days left…
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The scoreboard
PALERMO–REGGIANA 1–2
Markers: 35’pt Brunori (P), 7’st Portanova (R), 21’st Rozzio (R).
PALERMO (3-4-1-2) Pigliacelli; Diakité Lucioni, Nedelcearu (from 28’st Insigne); Buttaro (from 22’st Ranocchia), Henderson (from 11’st Segre), Gomes, Lund; Di Francesco (from 28’st Traorè); Brunori, Mancuso (from 11’st Soleri). Available: Desplanches, Kanuric, Jensen, Stulac, Marconi, Ceccaroni. Coach: Michele Mignani.
REGGIANA (3-4-2-1) Satalino; Libutti, Rozzio, Marcandalli; Fiamozzi, Bianco (from 46’st Cigarini) Kabashi, Pieragnolo (from 46’st Pajac); Melegoni, Portanova (from 29’st Antiste), Gondo (from 35’st Okwonkwo). Available: Sposito, Varela Djamanca, Vido, Reinhart, Sanchez, Pettinari, Szyminski, Vergara. Coach: Alessandro Nesta.
Referee: Perenzoni of Rovereto. Assistant I: Rocca di Catanzaro. Assistant II: Policeman of Cosenza. 4th Official: Perri from Rome 1. Var: Maggioni from Lecco. Avar: Serra di Torino.
NOTE – Booked: Libutti, Marcandalli (R), Henderson (P). Angles: 7-7. Spectators present: 20601 of which 351 Granata fans in the away sector.
