Boredom wins the Etruscan derby: Perugia-Arezzo ends 1-1

21 Apr 2024 7.16pm

by Giovanni Cardarello

Perugia, already certain of the final fourth place, was called to face their historic rivals Arezzo in the last match of the regular season at the ‘Renato Curi’. And he was called to do it not so much for the rankings, but – and above all – for sporting honor.

Sports honor that had at least three objectives to consider and achieve. Prevent Arezzo from winning again at the ‘Curi’ 38 years after their only triumph in Perugia; prevent the Amaranths from celebrating the mathematical achievement of the playoffs at home; give joy – the victory of the Etruscan derby – to the few fans who still have the will and passion to watch a Grifo match live. But in the 90th minute, unfortunately for Perugia fans, two out of three goals were missed.

The victory in the derby, in fact, did not arrive because the match ended with a lackluster 1-1, the result of a back and forth between the 3′ and 16′ of the second half between Lazzerini and Vazquez. Indians’ Arezzo thus celebrated at the ‘Curi’ the achievement of the playoff objective. There remains the very small consolation of having extended the positive streak in the Etruscan derby but it is really a small thing.

In terms of the news there is very little to say. There was little emotion, there was little goal scoring, there was little commitment, there was little Perugia’s plots based essentially on passes that went over the host’s midfield but without anyone forward being able to materialize them. Total involution of some elements of the squad, Ricci above all, and the clear feeling that by playing like this the Grifo di Formisano playoffs will be short and lacking in satisfaction. Last match on Sunday at Cesena, already promoted some time ago, and then the promotion lottery.

THE SCORESHEET OF PERUGIA-AREZZO

Perugia (3-4-2-1): Adamonis 6.5; Lewis 6, Vulikic 5 (10′ st Matos 5.5), Dell’Orco 6 (36′ st Souare sv); Mezzoni 5.5, Torrasi 5.5, Iannoni 6, Lisi 5.5; Paz 5 (19′ st Bartolomei 5), Ricci 5 (10′ st Seghetti 6); Vazquez 6.5 (36′ st Sylla sv).
Coach: Formisano 5.5
Arezzo (4-3-3): Trombini 6.5; Donati 5.5 (28′ st Coccia sv), Lazzarini 7, Risaliti 5.5 (42′ st Polvani sv), Montini 6; Settembrini 6, Mawuli 6.5 (28′ st Catanese sv), Damiani 6; Guccione 6 (42′ st Ekuban sv), Gucci 6.5, Gaddini 5.5 (19′ st Pattarello 6).
Coach: Indians 6.5.

Referee: Giuseppe Vingo from Pisa
Assistants: Davide Santarossa from Pordenone – Carlo De Luca from Merano).
Fourth official: Diego Castelli from Ascoli Piceno.

Goals: st 3′ Lazzarini, 17′ Vazquez

Booked: Vulikic, Torrasi, Gaddini; Matos; Lewis; Trumpets
Expelled: –