Palermo found the advantage in the first half with Brunori after a strong start from Emilia. The squad collapsed in the second half and was overtaken by Reggiana with Portanova and Rozzio, without even creating the conditions for a draw in the final
FIRST HALF – Chance to score the first victory of the Mignani era, secure sixth place, shorten the gap on Catanzaro, stopped at a draw in Pisa and currently fifth in the rankings. The match against Reggiana has a significant specific weight in the Rosanero team’s path towards the playoffs, the Genoa-born coach wants to see further progress after around three weeks of work on the Rosanero bench, not only in terms of balance and coverage of the pitch in phase of non-possession but also in terms of offensive production. It is important to test the conditions of Ranocchia, a potential plus at the end of the season, who returns to the available squad and initially starts on the bench. Palermo with Pigliacelli between the posts, Diakité-Lucion-Nedelcearu making up the defensive package, Buttaro and Lund full-backs. Gomes and Henderson in the key area, with Di Francesco oscillating between the midline and the attacking midfield, Brunori. Mancuso attack tandem. The team starts tight, the Emilian team is more lively and enterprising, first Gondo appears in the area after a nice combination but Nedelcearu does well and closes, then Cabassi tries from medium distance and Pigliacelli dives to his left. Palermo passive and ensnared, and Reggiana increasingly bold: Pieragnolo volleys from the edge and finds the wall, Pigliacelli overcomes Rozzio’s tap-in. First pink signal at minute eighteen, Gomes tries from twenty-two meters but his aim is far from perfect. Another flash, albeit feeble, a couple of minutes later: low cross by Lund, protection and discharge by Mancuso, wide right by Brunori. Interesting parable by Henderson on a dead ball and aerial deflection by Diakité which grazes the post. Another cross from Di Francesco and a gore from Nedelcearu high over the crossbar. Palermo seems to be growing at a distance: left-handed strike by Lund and assist for Brunori, swerve and low cross shot which Mancuso misses by a whisker, the ball touches the post with Satalino beaten. Brunori drives Libutti crazy who gets the yellow. Pink still insidious, Di Francesco lets the ball slide well after Lund’s throw and reaches the back dangerously, cross bounced and pinball into the area with MIgnani’s men claiming a handball. Palermo passes with an impromptu play in the thirty-sixth minute: Lucioni’s launch for the perfect movement of Brunori on the edge of the offside, luxury follow-up control to elude Satalino’s exit and the ball is deposited in the net. Check at VAR, after the flag initially raised by the assistant, which certifies the validity of the squad advantage. Palermo more authoritative and loose, psychologically unblocked by the advantage obtained after a complicated start. The first half ends with the hosts narrowly ahead.
SECOND HALF – Palermo risked twice at the start of the second half: poisonous cross with Pigliacelli ready and reactive to block, pink goalkeeper still brilliant on Rozzio’s subsequent aerial deflection. Henderson ends up in the referee’s notebook for a naive foul on Gondo on the edge of the area. Lethal naivety as Portanova invents a perfect parable that goes over the barrier and leaves Pigliacelli no way out. Mignani immediately launches Segre and Soleri for Henderson and Mancuso, Brunori tries to correct Di Francesco’s cross to the far post with his big plate but raises his aim. Cold shower at minute twenty-two: pink defense static and distracted on a cross from the right that cuts across the entire area, Rozzio impacts the ball magnificently and pierces Pigliacelli with a great conclusion under the intersection. Reggiana overturns the score and Palermo in the doldrums. Mignani plays the Ranocchia card and takes Buttaro away. Palermo remains with the 3-5-2 and Segre goes to play the fifth on the right at full flank. Reggiana who lowers themselves and makes strenuous density, Palermo who cannot find fluidity and ideas to break through Nesta’s tactical device. Mignani goes all-in just before the half hour mark: Insigne and Traorè come in for Di Francesco and Nedelcearu. Palermo with an unscrupulous 4-2-4 to try to get back on top with an aggressive finish to the match. Big chance for Brunori, but Soleri fortuitously rejects the pink bomber’s well-directed left-footed shot. The same number twenty-seven, lingers too long and has his shot blocked from a few meters after a pinball in the Emilian area. The final forcing of the pink team is as generous as it is chaotic and sterile, Reggiana risks little apart from a few sporadic scrums. A step backwards from all points of view, a sharp setback in the playoffs and the first knockout for Mignani on the Palermo bench.
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April 27, 2024 (modified April 27, 2024 | 6:17 pm)
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