At times, with the sun resting on the cradle of the waves on the horizon, ready to perform the most natural and poignant of lullabies, it almost seemed like we were in a film whose title could only be “Dejà vu”, with the lions who suffer like never before and everything seems to be lost, only to then rise again in the most difficult moment and twist the ending in their favor.
As happened a year ago, in fact, Bitonto holds their ground despite the large lead in the first leg, they suffer, but in the end they bring home the most important thing, such as qualifying for the play-off semi-final against the Sicilian side Mascalucia. A historic achievement in the first year in A2, brought home at the end of a difficult challenge, thanks to a brace from Decillis and goals from Castillo, Banegas and Acquafredda. Now it’s time for the neroverdi to recover their physical and mental energy, in view of next Saturday’s first leg match in Puglia against Mascalucia.
THE MATCH
Mister Pietro Di Bari chooses to start with the five made up of Dibenedetto, Banegas, Castillo, Decillis and Ferdinelli.
Bitonto started well and took the lead with Decillis who was initially good at intercepting Ferdinelli’s cross-shot, and then quickly turning and kicking from the front, surprising the goalkeeper, for the 0-1 Neroverde goal. Canicattì tries to reorganize their ideas and reaches the draw with Colore who advances on the left lane and with his right foot makes 1-1 for the home team. The goal gives confidence to the Sicilians who take the lead with Scervino who, from the same tile of Colore, weighs the corner at the far post with his right foot and makes it 2-1 Canicattì. Bitonto, however, is sly and immediately gets back to the game with Decillis who receives it from Orlino and makes it 2-2 in the first penalty area. The hosts did not lose their composure and before the break they brought their scores to four, first by taking advantage of Orlino’s unfortunate deflection on Scervino’s shot from distance, and then by capitalizing as best as possible on an incorrect exit with the ball by Bitonto and allowing Toledo to make it 4-2.
In the second half Bitonto once again approached the match better and returned to the game with a goal from Castillo who made the most of the home goalkeeper’s uncertainty on Dibenedetto’s long throw to make it 4-3. The joy of the goal, however, lasts little more than a turn of the clock with Scervino guessing the right hole to pass the ball from a tight angle and making it 5-3 for the Sicilians. Canicattì has no intention of giving up and brings their scores to six with the top scorer of group D Piovesan, who finds himself all alone at the far post and comfortably puts the ball into the net from two steps away to make it 6-3. The same Argentine tries on two other occasions from distance, but the Bitonto goalkeeper flies between the posts and smashes it into the corner. Dibendetto, however, can do nothing about Mosca’s conclusion from the edge which is low to the far post and which is worth the 7-3 for Canicattì which brings the Sicilians to minus one in the total number of goals from the Bitontini. As their history teaches, however, it is precisely in the moment of maximum difficulty that the neroverdi show their pride and with a handful of minutes from the end first with Banegas with a precise shot towards the goal and then with Acquafredda who is quicker than everyone returning the post’s rebound from Orlino’s shot into the net, making the final 7-5 which means passage to the semi-final which will be played in a home and away match, first in Puglia and then in Sicily, against Mascalucia.
Monday 6 May 2024
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