The first half between Palermo and Reggiana ends 1-0 at the Barbera. The first half was mostly balanced with opportunities on both sides. The Granata entered the game straight away and for the first quarter of an hour they held the ball in the attack, making themselves dangerous more than once. Palermo wakes up after the 14th minute when Ruzzio comes very close to taking the lead if it hadn’t been for a super Pigliacelli who intervenes in two halves and keeps the score stable at 0-0. This danger gave Mignani’s team a boost. In the 36th minute, Captain Brunori broke the deadlock by scoring a sensational goal: the number 9 served from far away by Lucioni blocked it and went past the opposing goalkeeper. The goal was initially disallowed for offside, but VAR decided to validate it.
Below is the live textual commentary of the match:
SECOND HALF
60‘ Palermo starts on the counterattack with Lund: Brunori is up front who asks for the pass, but his teammate is slow to serve it and the ball is lost.
56′ Double change for Mignani: Segre and Soleri take over Henderson and Mancuso.
54′ Corner kick for Palermo: Henderson takes the shot and passes short to Di Francesco who crosses in turn and wins another corner.
52′ Reggiana goal. From a free kick Portanova hits directly on goal and the ball ends up in the top corner equalizing the score.
51′ Henderson knocks down Gondo and is booked. Free kick for the guests.
48′ another providential intervention by Pigliacelli: Kabashi puts it in the middle on a corner kick, the ball is reiterated into the goal by Rozzio, the Rosanero goalkeeper is careful to block it.
47′ Reggiana wins a corner kick: on the developments the Granata are close to equalizing. Pigliacelli puts a very poisonous cross into the corner, thus anticipating a couple of Granata attackers.
46′ The match starts again at Barbera.
FIRST TIME
45’+1′ The first half ends here
43′ Marcandalli commits a foul on Lucioni and is booked. Free kick for Palermo.
42′ Lund tries from outside the area: the full-back unleashes a low right-footed shot which however ends up wide.
35′ GOOOOL PALERMO! Lucioni throws in the direction of Brunori, the captain stops with his chest and goes past the opposing goalkeeper, finding himself on target and scoring. The referee initially stops everything for offside, but after checking the VAR he retraces his steps and validates the goal. Rosanero ahead!
34′ Doubtful action in the penalty area: Brunori enters the attack and is thwarted by the Granata defense, the ball seems to carom off Kabashi’s arm, but the referee lets it continue.
33′ Henderson takes the free kick from a very interesting position: he passes it to Lund who puts it in the middle but the ball is blocked.
32′ Libutti brings down Brunori on the left wing and gets a yellow card. Free kick for Palermo.
31′ PALERMO ONE STEP FROM THE GOAL: Lund starts on the counterattack and serves Brunori: the captain sends a cross shot from a tight angle which almost hits the far post. Golden opportunity for the rosanero.
28′ On the developments of the corner kick: Henderson passes short to Di Francesco, the number 17 puts it in the middle and finds Mancuso who however sends it out with his head.
26′ Free kick for Palermo: Henderson takes the ball and puts it in the middle, heads Diakité but the ball is fouled and ends up just wide of the post. Corner kick for the rosanero.
20′ Palermo forward: Mancuso passes it to Brunori in attack, the number 9 attempts a curling shot which doesn’t turn and ends up on the back.
14′ Chills for the Rosanero defense: Kabashi puts it in the middle from the flag, Pieragnolo heads it away and forces Pigliacelli to intervene with his fists, the ball reaches Rozzio who counters and the Rosanero goalkeeper blocks again.
12′ Brunori tries to start on the counterattack but is blocked by two opponents and ends up on the ground, the referee blows his whistle in favor of the rosanero. The action restarts with Di Francesco who is served and enters the area but the ball is too long and ends up between the gloves of the Granata goalkeeper.
11′ Di Francesco enters the area and crosses in search of some teammate: Satalino intervenes and blocks it.
9′ Buttaro advances on the wing until he is yanked by an opponent and ends up on the ground: the crowd roars asking for an intervention from the referee who doesn’t arrive. Everything is OK.
6‘ Guests still on the attack: Kabashi attempts a shot from distance, Pigliacelli stretches out and counters it.
4‘ Throw-in for the Granata: Fiamozzi puts it in the middle looking for an opponent to attack, the ball is picked up by Di Francesco who sweeps it away.
2′ Reggiana pressing: Nedelcearu intervenes on an opponent by sending the ball into the corner.
1′ Ready go! The match begins at Barbera.
SCORESHEET
PALERMO: 22 Pigliacelli, 3 Lund, 4 Gomes, 5 Lucioni, 7 Mancuso, 9 Brunori (Cap.), 17 Di Francesco, 18 Nedelcearu, 23 Diakité, 25 Buttaro, 53 Henderson. Available: 1 Desplanches, 13 Kanuric, 2 Graves, 6 Stulac, 8 Segre, 11 Insigne, 14 Ranocchia, 15 Marconi, 27 Soleri, 32 Ceccaroni, 70 Traorè. Coach: Mignani.
REGGIANA: 12 Satalino, 3 Pieragnolo, 4 Rozzio (Cap.), 11 Gondo, 15 Fiamozzi, 17 Libutti, 27 Marcandalli, 42 Bianco, 72 Melegoni, 77 Kabashi, 90 Portanova. Available: 1 Sposito, 7 Varela, 8 Cigarini, 9 Vido, 16 Reinhart, 18 Okwonkwo, 20 Blanco, 23 Pettinari, 25 Szyminski, 28 Antiste, 29 Pajac, 30 Vergara. Coach: Nesta.
REFEREE: Perenzoni (Rovereto) AA1: Rocca (Catanzaro) AA2: Vigile (Cosenza) IV OFFICIAL: Perri (Roma 1) VAR: Maggioni (Lecco) AVAR: Serra (Turin).
MARKERS:Brunori 36′
NOTE: Libutti, Marcandalli, Henderson booked
