TARANTO-LATINA 0-0
TARANTO (3-4-3) Vannucchi 7; Riggio 5.5 (from the 1st minute Ladinetti 6), Miceli 6.5, Enrici 6; Luciani 6, Calvano 6, Zonta 6, Ferrara 6 (from 43′ st Mastromonaco sv); Kanoute 5.5 (from the 12th st Orlando 6), Simeri 5.5 (from the 12th st De Marchi 6), Bifulco 5.5 (from the 1st st Valietti 6.5). (Loliva, Costantino, Matera, Papaserio, Fiorani, Travaglini, Capone, Fabbro). All. Capuano 6.
LATINA (4-3-3) Earnings 6; De Santis 6, Marino 6 (from 35′ st Fabrizi sv), Vona 6, Ercolano 6.5; Crecco 6 (from 23′ st Capanni 6), Riccardi 5.5, Di Livio 6 (from 43′ st Fella sv); Paganini 6, Mastroianni 5.5, D’Orazio 7 (from 35′ st Del Sole sv). (Cardinali, Fasolino, Perseu, Cittadino, Sorrentino, Polletta, Scravaglieri, Di Renzo). Enclosure Fontana 6.5.
REFEREE Como Caldera 6.
NOTE Payers 8,819, proceeds not communicated. Warned Marino, Enrici. Angles 4-2.
Even a 0-0 can make you smile. Taranto begins its post-season run with a draw, suffers against a never-subdued Latina, but in the end advances to the next round. A match that made us understand what the playoffs mean, how complicated it is to play even with two results in your favor. The rossoblù have often been overcome by tension, they have conceded a few too many chances, but in the end they can continue their adventure with their heart and nails.
Playoff atmosphere, nearly nine thousand paying participants, red-blue choreography. Capuano is cautious in the starting eleven: he inserts Luciani on the right lane in midfield (Valietti sacrificed), for the rest it is a typical team with the returns of Miceli and Calvano compared to the last match of the championship. Latina enjoys the return of Di Livio, numerically in place of Del Sole. Coach Fontana surprises by choosing the 4-3-3 with the former Crecco as the right midfielder. Latina who starts strong: counterattack and corner on which De Santis goes high. Electric first lines, Bifulco wastes a restart. Then on Luciani’s cross in the 5th minute, Ercolano seems to touch it with his arm, but the referee allows it to continue, ruling that it was inadvertent. The VAR remains silent. Luciani on the right often has to return to block the initiatives of D’Orazio, who was very lively at the start. On an incorrect disengagement by Riccardi, Taranto creates a danger resulting in Calvano’s high right foot. The tactics are put in the attic, we play openly. It’s always D’Orazio who creates havoc: Mastroianni’s cross misses the aerial deflection. Taranto seems to want to leave the initiative to their opponents who slow down and relaunch the action in a syncopated manner. Capuano recalls Zonta and Calvano who must limit central penetration. Latina seems to find numerical superiority in different areas of the pitch. After twenty minutes the teams seem to catch their breath, Taranto appears not to be as loose as in other circumstances. Luciani saves with a deep diagonal shot following an incursion from the usual D’Orazio. The Lazio players exaggerate with their dribbling even in front of their own area, but the rossoblù don’t appear to be bad in the finishing phase. Crecco shoots in the 35th minute: high ball. Latina starts grinding again: Paganini goes down the right, wrong cross for D’Orazio. Some groans from the audience for a couple of lopsided raises. We suffer and Taranto, as Brera put it, defends the 0-0 while waiting for better times. Capuano runs for cover and sets up 3-5-2 with the entrances of Ladinetti and Valietti. Bifulco is given up. Now there is numerical parity in the median. After two minutes D’Orazio calls Vannucchi to intervene. Which is repeated on Herculaneum. They are chills for the nine thousand who continue to push from the stands. Kanoute doesn’t get going, but at least the defensive device holds up with Miceli above all. D’Orazio is everywhere. From one of his crosses, Enrici manages to free with difficulty. Taranto grits its teeth and stings in the 10th minute: cross from Valietti, volley from Zonta which whistles off the right post. The best rossoblù opportunity. Which seems to draw new life from the new opportunity. Capuano reviews the attack with Orlando and De Marchi, looking for athletic freshness. Valietti is a constant reference: from an assist from him comes a left-footed shot by Orlando that calls Guadagno to make a great save. D’Orazion is an annoying mosquito: his shot in the 16th minute fortunately comes out weakly from the left boot. Now it’s a reversal of the situation: from Ferrara’s left, the liberating rebound comes from De Santis. The tied result keeps everyone anxious, qualification is truly in the balance. Latina spent a lot, now Taranto holds the field better, more rational with the 3-5-2 even if Zonta is the most advanced of the midfielders and brings the scheme closer to the starting 3-4-3. D’Orazio’s plays are stopped with all possible energy. De Marchi and Orlando challenge Guadagni around the half hour mark. Now we fight on every tackle, every ball is contested. Fontana plays his cards in attack with Fabrizi and Del Sole. Taranto knows that the 0-0 is good and closes all the spaces. Mastroianni had the lead in the 38th minute, Vannucchi overcame the Nerazzurri striker’s header. Orlando misses the lob in the 40th minute, it would have been a stunning goal. The final changes slow down the pathos of the final moments. We have to overcome the last four minutes of injury time, even throws into the stands are allowed. Taranto passes, the playoff fever begins to rise more and more
