MONOPOLI – No points have arrived for Messina since the trip to Monopoli. Messina’s season ends with a defeat, the fifteenth and eighth away. Monopoli had more desire to attack at the start and also luck with Salvo’s own goal favored by Borrello’s conclusion. The second goal came at the start of the second half with the central defenders forgetting Tommasini, Messina’s reaction with the men from the bench, Cavallo brushes it for Luciani’s head who shortens, then the Monopoli closes because he is afraid of being put back on, but Messina doesn’t take advantage.
Mister Modica ultimately opts to give space to those who have had less. In a 4-3-3 from first on the pitch Piana Polito, Scafetta, Firenze Giunta in midfield, Signorile in attack, first as a starter, and Luciani. Salvo remains fixed on the right, Pacciardi on the center left with Dumbravanu manning the flank on that side, Zunno in front. Also on the bench is Adragna, born in 2006, who trained with the group in recent weeks. For once, Fumagalli, father and son, will watch the game together from the bench.
The Group C ranking sees us finish in 14th position behind Catania even though we have equal points on 45, but we have a worse goal difference -8 for us +1 for them. The Etna cousins therefore avoid the specter of playout. Messina archives the best championship of the Sciotto era in Serie C and from tomorrow they expect answers on the future to be planned in time.
First half
Monopoli clearly set the game as they already had an opportunity in the 4th minute with a corner headed by Fornasier, Piana had to lift it over the crossbar and concede a second corner. Messina tries to close in and start again and in the 7th minute there is danger from the left with Tommasini who in the area with his back to the goal tries to back-heel but misses the goal defended by Piana. In the 10th minute Monopoli took the lead, Borrello took the ball on the edge of the area and suddenly shot to the far post, Piana somehow blocked it but unfortunately returned it to Salvo who was running backwards and the rebound saw the ball end up in the goal.
Monopoli continues to push and gets another chance with a cross from the right with a header from Barcollo which Piana saves safely. Messina appears in the offensive zone in the 17th minute with Dumbravanu’s cross which takes a strange trajectory and becomes a shot that Dalmasso controls as it heads towards the back. In this phase Monopoli slows down, but Messina is still unable to develop their game.
After half an hour the biancoscudati have a chance with a free kick from 30 meters but in a central position, Modica’s players develop a scheme that doesn’t end well and the defense sweeps without too many frills. Shortly afterwards Messina goes up and with Zunno wins the first corner kick of their match, on Florence’s serve in the 37th minute Polito free from marking at the edge of the small area sends the ball over the crossbar.
Second half
Mister Modica changes during the interval, Zona and Cavallo come in, Pacciardi and Signorile come out. Messina’s defense is ready to sleep with Borrello who can post with Polito and Dumbravanu who miss the local center forward, Polito’s run-up was useless as he flanked his opponent without trying to challenge him for the ball and Tommasini was able to beat Piana diagonally. The guest’s reaction came in the 52nd minute, a cross from Zona which found his colleague Salvo on the other side who headed it but was not precise. Shortly after Luciani halves the distance and scores for Messina, the action takes place in the 53rd minute Cavallo’s cross returns towards the goal with Luciani who is quick to head the ball and scores. Immediate reply to Monopoli with Tommasini returning face to face with Piana who this time gets the upper hand and pushes back. Piana was again called into action and in the 57th minute he had to save on Iaccarino, the saves required became increasingly complicated but the goalkeeper was ready.
Changes are also arriving for Monopoli, out Iaccarino and Sosa, in Hamlili and Grandolfo. When the game resumed, another opportunity with Grandolfo himself who found the ball rejected by Piana after Borrello’s conclusion, but was attacked and neutralized by the Messina defenders. Lively match now and in the 69th minute Dalmasso denied the joy of the goal to Ragusa who had found himself face to face after a splendid assist from Cavallo and the Apulian goalkeeper managed to extend it into the corner. On the other side in the 72nd minute the shot from the flag goes to Monopoli who have a chance with a header with Bizzotto.
In the end, knowing the results from the other fields, Monopoly is defended. There won’t be much action with Messina trying to build in a gentle way, in the end five minutes of injury time were granted but as in the first leg the two teams don’t push and seem to be satisfied even if this time Messina suffers a defeat, but it’s painless since the goal had been achieved.
Monopoli – Acr Messina 2-1
Ss Monopoli 1966 (3-5-2): Dalmasso; Fornasier, Angileri, Bizzotto; Viteritti (from 85′ Berman), De Risio, Iaccarino (from 66′ Hamlili), Borello (from 75′ Bulevardi), Barlocco; Sosa (Grandolfo from 66′), Tommasini (Ardizzone from 85′).
On the bench: S Vitale, De Paoli, Ferrini, Cristallo, Simone, Cubretovic, Arioli, Peschetola, M Vitale.
Coach: Roberto Taurino.
Acr Messina (4-2-3-1): Flat; Salvo, Polito, Pacciardi (from 46′ Zone), Dumbravanu; Scafetta, Florence, Giunta (from 76′ Emmausso); Signorile (from 46′ Cavallo), Luciani (from 76′ Plescia), Zunno (from 60′ Ragusa).
On the bench: E Fumagalli, Manetta, Frisenna, Franco, Lia, Adragna, Rosafio, J Fumagalli.
Coach: Giacomo Modica.
Scorers: Salvo 10′ (aut. Me), Tommasini 47′ (Mo), Luciani 54′ (Me).
Booked: Giunta 43′ (Me), Viteritti 51′ (Mo), Iaccarino 69′ (Mo), Zona 65′ (Me), De Risio 87′ (Mo).
Corners: 8-2. Recovery time: 1′ + 5′.
Referee: Marco Emmanuele of Pisa.
Assistants: Franco Iacovacci from Latina & Andrea Cecchi from Roma1.
Fourth official: Giuseppe Vingo from Pisa.
Featured image by Francesco Saya,
from the Acr Messina Facebook page
