Catania is saved and will participate in the play offs. Thanks to a goal by Cianci which made it 1-0 against Benevento. Play out nightmare chased away on the last day of the regular season, on a cool spring evening. And now there are two weeks to prepare for the promotion play-offs obtained thanks to the final reached in the Italian Cup.
In the match that is worth the season, Zeoli relies on the proven game system and the fittest men, like Cianci who returns to form an attacking pair from the start with Di Carmine. Auteri, who had also tried the 4-man defense during the week, did not distort his Benevento and remained with three, while still preserving the banned Paleari, Capellini, Nardi, Talia and Ferrante. Massimino is thrilled, accompanies the team and almost celebrates when Bouah’s header hits the crossbar. However, Catania plays from the start, as has not happened in the last away games. Quaini goes to place himself between Monaco and Castellini in the rearguard which becomes 5-man.
But it is Zeoli’s team that initially leads the game: Cicerelli has an excellent chance almost from the penalty spot but he shoots high and becomes desperate. Halfway through the first half, with the advantage of Turris and Monopoli, Catania would be safe for the lead (10 points) over Monterosi. Meanwhile, chills also arrive at Massimino. Masciangelo crosses for Bolsius who devours the opportunity to take the lead. Then it’s Furlan who saves on Karic. Nice save from the goalkeeper in a phase of the match in which Benevento did better.
However, Catania responds: Castellini serves Bouah, closes the defense of the Samnites and Di Carmine finishes from a few meters and finds the response from Manfredini. The end of the first half is still in favor of Catania who passes from a corner kick. Cianci tries twice: on the first he rejects the defense, on the second attempt, with his left foot, the ball ends up in the net. Massimino explodes, Cianci runs under Sud. Now the fans are screaming and, at least for the moment, they have taken a great burden off themselves, like the players on the pitch.
It’s still the former Taranto striker who becomes dangerous after ten minutes of the second half: cross from Cicerelli and a left footed shot that goes wide. Catania continues to compete against a Benevento team that is struggling to become dangerous. Bouah also came close to doubling the lead in a somewhat blocked second half. Zeoli makes the first substitution after the seventieth minute with Ndoj coming in for Cicerelli. Cianci also leaves. In his place Chiricò was greeted by boos from the public. Sturaro makes his contribution in the finale. The news also arrives of Avellino’s advantage which takes away any chance of second place for Benevento.
At Massimino, however, there is time for another thrill: Ciano chipped the crossbar from a free kick, just at the moment in which Monterosi took the lead against Foggia. There are still six minutes to play, time added by referee Frascaro of Florence. But Catania holds up. Appointment in the first round of the national play-off phase. It starts on May 11th.
