LUCIANO ZANINI’S POINT
VICENZA, LAST ACT WITH SUSPENCE
THE HISTORICAL DAY OF BUSATTO & BUSATO
Personally I was of the opinion that the match against Trento – the one of the duo’s pearls of goals Della Morte & Ronaldo – would have been decisive for the best positioning of Lane in the grid of contenders for Serie B via playoffs. The victory was absolutely necessary to keep Triestina out of third place. So it was. However, I didn’t give excessive importance to the last match against Alessandria, now done away with illo tempo. However, it was said: against the Greys, already relegated, it could be an opportunity to try to gain a further advantage, i.e. placing among the top seeds for the playoffs. As long as two coincidences were achieved: Lane’s 3-0 victory and Carrarese’s defeat (led until February by the former Vicenza coach From the song) against Pontedera, in the Tuscan derby of Serie C, group B. All true, all beautiful, but football has its own precepts and its own (unwritten) “code” which often materialize perhaps against all odds. Just to say, we know that a derby has its own unique history, in which the strongest team often succumbs or is blocked. The same thing happens for the many teams that reach a big goal, the same promotion, with a few rounds to spare, and that’s it… they invariably then disappoint in the following matches. Just to stay on topic, it’s enough to talk about Mantova who – once promoted – took a resounding hit from Lane and subsequently suffered repeated flops. So, with third place achieved after a succession of 15 consecutive positive results, this football “code” could very well have been applied to Lane too. This essentially also happened on Sunday afternoon at Moccagatta in Alessandria, against the worst team in the championship and with two feet in Serie D. Mister Vecchi’s team played a limp first half, scoring the Alessandria goal and managing to save the skin only when it expires and just barely (thanks Eupalla!).
The record of sixteen games without defeat
In short, it is well understood that Vicenza took to the field on the last day, having already achieved the important objective within its reach before the playoffs, i.e. third place, it must be underlined that in the end they managed to get away with it and avoid a draw, or worse the defeat, against the bottom of the class. Certainly a good sign. An excellent viaticum for the upcoming playoffs starting from the third place achieved on the field. That third place – we must remember – which seemed like a utopia, an impossible goal after a disastrous first round. Only thanks to the change on the bench between Aimo Diana and Stefano Vecchi, things changed and Lane slowly regained blood and standings. There were 15 points separating the red and whites from Triestina, which looked like a battleship, but instead, precisely in conjunction with the red and white boarding, it sensationally began to take on water, until it was caught and overtaken in the final sprint. An exceptional run-up which also brought with it a historical record which goes entirely to the credit of Mister Vecchi: the series of sixteen positive results achieved by Lanerossi Vicenza. It is not something of little importance, on the contrary, because it indicates that alongside team play, cohesion between the departments, great midfield, there is also the presence of a fair amount of good luck which never hurts in achieving great goals. Against the grays I expected a non-trivial match from Alessandria, by virtue of the coat of arms that this club (which in the past formed the famous “Piedmontese quadrilateral” together with Novara, Casale and Pro Vercelli) could assert. In its history, in fact, it can boast many Serie A and B championships, and having given birth to several champions: above all the Golden Ball winner Gianni Rivera, pure footballing talent and world-class player for many years. And then, just when you have nothing to lose, as is the case with Alessandria at the moment, all that remains is to make a virtue of necessity and try to stop or beat a top opponent.
The historic day of Busatto & Busato
Given that the derby between Carrarese and Pontedera ended with the victory of the “marmorini” 2 to 1, thus removing any regrets from the red and whites, we can well say that Lane’s match against Alessandria was a last act with suspense. Fans and professionals expected a clear victory for our team but, precisely because of the above, things went differently on the pitch. The team set up by Vecchi is not the usual one but suffers from suspensions and injuries. Obviously, however, he is always strong in every department so play and goals are expected. What happens instead is that in our declines a sort of apathy, of general distraction, so instead of showing their muscles, Vicenza adapts to the friendly climate at the end of the championship and the match takes on a physiognomy based on listless play without sauce. There are only a couple of jolts: the first with Ferrari scoring but the goal was disallowed due to a previous foul by him; the second with Delle Monache who has the right opportunity but shoots high. Missed goal, missed goal: the Vicenza player from Alessandria Busatto (two t’s) moves well in the area so much so that Ronaldo commits a foul to stop him. Busatto himself beats the penalty and makes it 1 to 0. The boy has a red and white heart because he doesn’t celebrate, but he scores well! At this point Mr. Vecchi understands that the trip out of town to Piedmont could turn into an unpleasant beating and decides to sound the charge before taking to the field for the second half. Proia out, impalpable, in the “little Sivori” Della Morte to change the famous inertia of the race. Something seems to be moving but the result doesn’t change with the grays holding the field well and also remaining with ten men due to Gega’s expulsion (27′). However, there are two goal opportunities for the red and whites created by Ronaldo’s assists: one at the feet of Delle Monache who wastes badly two steps from the goalkeeper, and the other from Franco Ferrari who does the same by sending the ball wide from almost in front of goal . In short, Lane doesn’t get anything out of the hole and it’s going to be a mock afternoon. It looms, however, because in the 70th minute Vecchi gets the good idea of putting baby Busato on the field (only one “t”). The goddess Eupalla must certainly have liked him: he is a very young man making his debut (born in 2004) and must be encouraged and protected, as we will see. Minutes pass and Lane doesn’t break through, in fact they almost risk sinking completely when Confente manages to thwart a dangerous free kick from Mastalli (77′). Come on, the golden moment arrives for the newly-entered baby: following a melee in the gray area the ball reaches Busato who doesn’t miss the opportunity and places it in the net (89′). Historic goal for him and a shock for Lane who finds himself and tries again with good determination. So much so that in the 96th minute the loco, but generous, Ferrari gets himself a penalty foul: he then goes to the spot and, coldly, cold poor Farroni. He ends up in glory, despite everything. Hurray!.
Ferrari congratulates the young Busato
Arzignano also closes well and stays here!
TAll’s well that ends well! The old dear adage, never out of fashion, also fits perfectly for this last day of the Serie C championship, group A, 2023/2024. Lane won the last match, although they risked losing their lives, and we can point to many of the good things we said about. Now the mind of the Orobic leader is naturally filled with playoffs, studying the opponents, in-depth examination of the psycho-physical state of the red and white players and so on. Without being foolishly optimistic, but just realistic, we can still have a good dose of hope in view of the next playoffs. As everyone knows, for the playoffs the “Vatican” rule almost always applies, which states “Whoever enters (into the Conclave) Pope leaves Cardinal”, meaning that it is difficult to make predictions when in the end only one team wins out of dozens of competitors. And it’s not even a given that the top seeds will be able to get to the bottom: just look at Lecco last year. Having said this, we must remember that Mr. Vecchi is good and has (winning) playoff experience. That Lane made a great return round, finishing in first place in the rankings. That Ronaldo is back in a big way and Della Morte is pawing the way with his serpentines. That the defensive block is expert. That up front – despite the absence of Rolfini who really wasn’t needed – there are people who know how to score goals of all kinds. With these premises, in my opinion, there is only one watchword: let’s play it with confidence in our means without having inferiority complexes towards any competitor, even if strong. However, and there is a but as big as a house, beware of repeating what has happened in recent years: not putting your soul and determination into it, always and in any case. This would be unforgivable. A great compliment, last but not least, to Arzignano who in the match against a strong team (Atalanta U23) won the decisive point of salvation and with it their stay in Serie C. Great result and great applause for president Chilese, his staff and for the Valchiampo fans.
Luciano Zanini
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