PISA. Pisa under the eyes of Knaster comes back from two goals against Catanzaro and draws 2-2 in the final with Moreo and Marin, on the evening of Friday 26 April. Nerazzurri eighth for one night.
A Shark in front
Aquilani is aiming for 4-2-3-1 with Barbieri on the right and Beruatto on the left. Canestrelli returns to the center of defense while in attack Bonfanti wins the run-off with Moreo. In Catanzaro Pontisso replaces the injured Ghion and in attack there is room for the Biascie Ambrosino duo. The striker Iemmello starts from the bench.
Shocking departure
After 30 seconds Pisa is already one goal down: corner from the left by Vandeputte who kicks to the opposite side where Pontisso coordinates well and kicks an unstoppable shot for Nicolas with his right foot. The Arena is frozen by the cold goal but the reaction is there. In the stands and also on the pitch. Great play by Canestrelli in the 12th minute with a pass in the corridor to D’Alessandro who anticipates Fulignati while running but the ball goes out by a whisker. A minute passes and the Giallorossi goalkeeper stretches out to deflect Beruatto’s poisonous low shot from outside the area into a corner. The race is intense and with a high pace. Both teams play the ball with speed and press. Lots of good things from both sides but also some mistakes like in the 28th minute when Antonini almost makes a big mistake on a back pass but Valoti doesn’t take advantage of it, missing the connection with the door wide open. Barbieri tries to shoot, a corner deflection by Scognamillo, and then Arena but Fulignati blocks. In the 42nd minute Pisa goes on the counterattack with D’Alessandro who is brought down by Situm. For the referee it’s yellow. As the free kick develops, Valoti’s header narrowly misses the mark. In the second half Pisa immediately started strong again with Arena making a great play and serving Bonfanti who hit the crossbar squarely. Pisa unlucky. Shortly afterwards, however, the Nerazzurri did not take advantage of another mistake by Catanzaro with Marin who shot into the goalkeeper’s arms only in front of Fulignati. Pisa insists and Canestrelli also tries with a header and Barbieri from outside but Fulignati is attentive in both cases.
Hell and rebirth
Pisa attacks but Catanzaro strikes with a deadly counterattack from Vandeputte who assists Ambrosino for the second goal. The attacker also scored in the first leg. Aquilani made the first changes in the 26th minute, inserting Moreo, Matteo Tramoni and Mlakar for Bonfanti Arena and Valoti. Pisa returns to the attack and after a save by Fulignati on Beruatto closes the gap with a nice header from Moreo. The striker scores his third league goal from a well-taken corner by Beruatto. Pisa persists and finds the equalizer with a shot from Marin from outside which takes an unstoppable trajectory for Fulignati. After seven minutes of added time it ends with the applause of the crowd for the Nerazzurri.
The scoreboard
PISA (4-2-3-1): Nicolas; Barbieri, Caracciolo, Canestrelli, Beruatto; Esteves (35′ st Toure), Marin (39′ st De Vitis); Arena (27′ st M. Tramoni), Valoti (27′ st Mlakar), D’Alessandro; Bonfanti (27′ st Moreo). All.: Aquilani.
CATANZARO (4-4-2): Fulignati; Situm (1′ st Oliveri), Brighenti (38′ st Veroli), Scognamillo, Antonini; Sounas, Pontisso (14′ st Pompetti), Petriccione, Vandeputte; Biasci (14′ st Iemmello), Ambrosino (30′ st Brignola). All.:Vivarini.
REFEREE: Gualtieri of Asti.
GOALS: pt 1′ Pontisso; st 18′ Ambrosino, 29′ and 37′ Marin.
NOTE: Attendance 8,525. Booked: Caracciolo, Pontisso, Situm, Valoti, Ambrosino. Angles:8-2. Recovery: pt 1′; st 5′.
