Palermo does not deny itself and disappoints again at home, Ascoli catches the pinks again in injury time – BlogSicilia

Yet another disappointment at the Barbera for Palermo who bid farewell to their fans by drawing 2-2 with Ascoli on the 37th day of the Serie B championship at the end of a new, not irresistible performance which closes the internal roadmap with a terrible balance sheet made up of eight wins, four draws and seven defeats.

The point gained by the Rosanero allows them to arithmetically reach the play offs but sixth position is still at risk. The Sicilians, in fact, wearily climb to 53, Sampdoria who won 1-0 over Reggiana and Brescia who got rid of Lecco 4-1 trail by one and two points respectively.

The Rosanero’s championship victory has continued to be absent since last March 10th (0-1 in Lecco) while the three points at home have been a chimera since last February 17th, i.e. from that illusory 3-0 against Como which projected the Sicilians to a I’m moving from Serie A directly. Since then a total of only two wins, five draws and six defeats for a relegation list.

Only Cittadella, Bari and Lecco did worse while Feralpisalò also did better, relegated today with the honor of arms after the knockout on the Venezia pitch 2-1.

A real failure that the club, sporting director, coaches and players – who are the ones who go on the pitch – will have to reflect on in view of the play-offs which could also be a flash.

Next Friday the last one in the championship in Bolzano on the Sudtirol pitch to defend sixth position and have a less difficult place in the play-offs on paper. Certainly the objectives at the beginning of the season seemed different. Certainly many expected a different season finale.

New disappointment with Ascoli

Even with Ascoli in difficulty and lacking oxygen, Palermo was unable to achieve a result at home. Mignani continues to postpone the appointment with the first victory on the Rosanero bench. The fourth draw in six games arrives which interrupts the two knockouts in a row obtained with Reggiana and Spezia. It is now well known that his treatment continues to fail in terms of results. And to say that the match against the Bianconeri had started in the best possible way: Soleri served Brunori who scored after a minute under the semi-empty North Curva at the start of the match due to the protest of the organized groups. Pink ahead but not very convincing in the hunt for a double. Instead of the 2-0, Caligari equalized with a header with the Rosanero defense immobile in the circumstance.

Shortly after the half hour, however, Soleri brought the pink team back ahead. Little happens in the second half. Desplanches is good towards the end on Nestorovski but when everything seems ready for the three points that would have given the rosanero the certainty of sixth position, Caligara’s sidereal mockery arrives. The first ever of the Under 21 goalkeeper was not exactly lucky but he still showed personality.

Rosanero in pieces

For the rest, the usual argument made for at least two months now applies. Rosanero also in pieces physically, the forced substitutions of Gomes and Ranocchia are indicative. The rest would be a broken record and there would be a risk of shooting at the red cross. But it is clear that Palermo cannot make much progress like this, especially if they no longer win even at home, once a fortress, now a land of conquest.

Mignani’s choices, Desplanches between the posts

The big news in Palermo’s starting line-up that coach Michele Mignani has decided on is undoubtedly the presence of Desplanches in goal in place of Pigliacelli. This is the absolute debut for the rosanero this season for the starting goalkeeper of the Under 21 national team. Then a three-man defense made up of Lucioni, Nedelcearu and Ceccaroni; wingers Diachitè and Lund in a midfield combination made up of Segre, Gomes and Ranocchia. The pair Brunori and Soleri go forward.

Palermo ahead at the first attack, Brunori doesn’t forgive

The match immediately broke the deadlock in Palermo’s favor after just a minute of play. Central percussion by Soleri who serves Brunori as soon as he enters the area. The Rosanero number 9 doesn’t take any time and throws the ball into the goal to make it 1-0. For the attacker it is goal number 17.

Rosanero chasing a double

Palermo tries to double the lead and is dangerous in the 12th minute in a restart started by Gomes who tries to serve Brunori in the area, a decisive intervention by the former Rosanero Bellusci who avoids major trouble.

Firecrackers and paper bombs, game interrupted

Between the 16th and 20th minute the referee interrupted the game due to the continuous throwing of firecrackers and paper bombs at the entrance of the fans organized in the lower north corner after the “strike” announced in recent days.

Caligara equalises

But Ascoli equalized close to half an hour of the first half. In fact, in the 27th minute Caligara’s winning header arrives, doing well to take advantage of a cross from Celia. In the circumstance, however, the Rosanero defense did not seem free from fault. Desplanches beaten with the first shot on goal.

Soleri brings Palermo back

However, the balance lasts six minutes. In the 33rd minute Palermo reacts, pushes and takes the lead again. Soleri, his fifth goal of the championship, defends a ball in the area and serves Segre who in turn gives it back to him with an acrobatics. The Sicilians’ number 27 comes out from behind anticipating Bellusci and dives to push the ball to make it 2-1.

Ranocchia doesn’t take advantage of the Ascoli defense’s mistake

In the 41st minute Palermo could score the 3-1. It all stems from an error by the Ascoli defense with a lateral pass that was too casual on a similar occasion – to be clear about the one that led Rossi to score the 2-1 against Brazil at the 1982 World Cup – and the ball was intercepted by Ranocchia who, however, did not imitate Pablito and concludes weakly, also reassembled by the Marche players. In the event of a goal, however, the goal would have been annulled due to a foul by Soleri during the action.

There aren’t many emotions and the referee, after five minutes of injury time, sends the two teams to the locker rooms.

Second half without changes

The second half starts without changes and with the same 22 on the pitch for the second 45 minutes.

Gomes stops, Henderson comes on, three changes in Ascoli

In the 55th minute Gomes stopped due to a knee injury. Mignani prepares the forced exchange with Henderson. From a tactical point of view, nothing changes. Carrera responds shortly after with three changes. Valzania, Di Tacchio and Tarantino are out, Rodriguez, Masini and former rosanero Nestorovski are in.

Other changes

Shortly afterwards Carrera brings out Celia, author of the cross exploited by Caligara for the momentary Juventus equaliser, and brings in D’Uffizi. In the 67th minute Mignani also had to give up Ranocchia who was unwell and threw Di Francesco into the fray.

Few emotions

There are very few emotions in this shot. Displanches sure on a couple of occasions on normal administration or little more. Ascoli is looking for a draw which would be essential to continue maintaining their chances of playing out, Palermo containing and with few ideas.

Desplanches saves on Nestorovski

Ascoli chases an equalizer and in the 73rd minute Nestorovski, who entered shortly before, manages to find the conclusion from a not exactly central position which Desplanches is ready for and rejects, avoiding the former’s classic goal.

Three changes for Palermo, one for Ascoli

In the 82nd minute Duris comes on for Falzerano in Ascoli. A minute later Mignani runs out of substitutions with three substitutions. Brunori, Nedelcearu and Ceccaroni exit for Mancuso, Stulac and Marconi.

Thrill Ascoli, Palermo posts after Vasquez’s mistake

Just over a minute later Palermo came close to making it 3-1 by chance. Not an irresistible shot from Di Francesco, from a tight angle, Vasquez is faulty in his intervention to the point that the ball escapes him and hits the post and then dances on the goal line.

Caligara’s cannonade and Ascoli equalizer

But the joke for Palermo is around the corner. In the second of the five minutes of injury time assigned by the referee, Caligara finds the joker from sidereal distance following the development of a corner kick with the ball returned by the defense and a volley from the Juventus player which leaves no chance for Desplanches on the farthest pole. It ends like this: Palermo ahead twice then again reached by Caligara. Palermo in the play-offs but with sixth position in the balance; Ascoli still fighting for the play outs.

The scoreboard

Palermo-Ascoli 2-2

Palermo: Desplanches; Nedelcearu (from 83′ Marconi), Lucioni, Ceccaroni (from 83′ Stulac); Diachitè, Segre, Gomes (from 56′ Henderson), Ranocchia (from 67 Di Francesco), Lund; Soleri, Brunori (from 83′ Mancuso). Trainer Michele Mignani. Available: Pigliacelli, Karunic; Graves, Buttaro, Traorè, Insigne.

Ascoli: Vasquez; Bellusci, Botteghin, Mantovani; Falzerano (from 82′ Duris), Valzania (from 57′ Rodriguez), Di Tacchio (from 57′ Masini), Celia (from 65′ D’Uffizi); Caligara, Zedadka, Tarantino (Nestorovski in the 57th minute). Trainer Massimo Carrera. Available: Bolletta, Viviano, Quaranta, Adjapong, Vaisanen, Giovane, Streng.

Referee: Marco Di Bello from Brindisi. Linesmen Marco Ceccon from Lovere and Mattia Politi from Lecce. Fourth man Stefano Milone from Taurianova. Var Daniele Paterna from Teramo, Avar Oreste Muto of Torre Annunziata.

Net: At 1′ Brunori, at 27 Caligara, at 33′ Soleri, at 90’+3′ Caligara

Note. Match characterized by the throwing of firecrackers. The referee stopped the game for a few minutes. Diachitè (Palermo), Di Tacchio (Ascoli), Henderson (Palermo), Lucioni (Palermo) are booked. 5′ and 5′ recoveries