A great Novara promises not only the first act of the playout against Fiorenzuola but also salvation in Serie C. The Azzurri won on the Emilian pitch 3-1 and the return match, next Sunday at Piola, becomes a formality, unless sensational and unthinkable slip-ups. Everything was decided in the first half: after an initial study phase, it was Oliver Urso, once again, Fiorenzuola’s “black beast” who headed in Bentivegna’s cross. The second goal at the end of the first half was a penalty scored by Bentivegna (with the help of VAR) and a few minutes later a wild Ongaro dragged half the Emilian defense behind him and scored. In the second half the useless goal from Fiorenzuola.
FIORENZUOLA (4-3-3): Sorzi; Sussi (30’st Nelli), Potop, Cremonesi (31’st Musatti), Maffei (13’st Alberti); Oneto (1’st Morello), Mora, Di Gesù; D’Amico (31’st Rings), Ceravolo, Bocic. All. Tabbiani
NOVARA (4-4-2): Minelli; Boccia (18’st Bonaccorsi), Bertoncini, Lorenzini, Migliardi; Gerardini (21’pt Corti), Ranieri, Di Munno, Urso; Bentivegna (18’st Ngamba), Ongaro (42’st Vilhjalmsson). Coach Gattuso
REFEREE: Cavaliere di Paola
GOALS: pt, 36′ Urso, 45′ Bentivegna (pen), 49′ Ongaro; st, 33′ Rings
NOTES: sent off at 45’st Potop; yellow cards: D’Amico, Oneto, Bocic, Maffei, Mora, Anelli; recovery: st 8′, st 6′; total spectators: 1,475
