May 21, 2024, 10.41pm
4 min read
CATANIA – Catania is here! The rossozzurri put their heart into it and beat Avellino 1-0 in the first leg of the play-off quarter-finals for promotion to Serie B. Pietro Cianci scored the winning goal midway through the second half with a great shot from the edge that left Ghidotti no escape.
Difficult match against the highly rated Irpinia team coached by Pazienza who finished the regular season in second place.
The beginning is trilling because, after just 47 seconds from the starting whistle, referee Crezzini pulls out the red card to punish an obvious hold by Cancellotti against Di Carmine thrown into the net by Monaco. The match director, however, was called to VAR and changed his decision, warning only the Irpinia defender.
On the developments of the Zammarini free kick he catches Cianci in the area but the attacker wastes it by sending the ball just wide. The guests maneuver well in the attacking midfield and cause some worries for the home team with Patierno’s shot on the outside of the net.
Then Tello tries but his attempt was blocked in the corner by an opponent. On the cross from the flag… Quaini crosses the ball well with his head, surprising Ghidotti but Patierno is well positioned on the goal line and thwarts the threat.
In injury time it’s Furlan’s turn saving his goal with a diving rebound on Sgarbi’s shot.
In the second half immediately a whirlwind of substitutions and matches that seem to lead to nothing. But in the 26th Welbeck (among the best on the pitch together with a superlative Quaini) recovers yet another ball in the midfield and serves Cianci on the edge of the opponent’s area.
The number 90 turns and lets off a great shot which ends up making the “Massimino” explode with joy. In the final, Avellino tries to react but does not create any particular worries for the attentive Etna rearguard.
At the last moment of recovery… the match director stops a very dangerous counterattack by Chiarella launched into the net, sending everyone into the shower. The next round will be decided in Irpinia next Saturday. Catania will have to score at least a draw to fly to the semi-finals!
Scoreboard
CATANIA – AVELLINO 1-0
CATANIA FC (3-5-2) – Furlan, Monaco, Quaini, Castellini (k) (from 35th st Celli)Bouah, Tello (from 17th st Kontek)Welbech, Zammarini (from 17th st Ndoj)Cicerelli (from 7th Marsura)Di Carmine, Cianci (from 35th st Chiarella).
Available: Albertoni, Donato, Rapisarda, Sturaro, Haveri, Chiricò, Costantino.
Trainer: Michele Zeoli.
AVELLINO (3-5-2) Ghidotti, Cancellotti (from the 1st Region)Cionek, Frascatore, Ricciardi, De Cristofaro, Armellino (k), D’Ausilio (from 24th Fortress)Liotti (from the 24th Tito)Sgarbi (from 35th st Gori)Patierno (from the Russian 35th).
Available: Pane, Pizzella, Mulè, Llano, Varela, Palmiero, Pezzella, Rocca, Dall’Oglio, Tozaj, Marconi.
Trainer: Michele Pazienza.
Referee: Valerio Crezzini of Siena.
Assistants: Andrew Zezza (Ostia Lido) and Vittorio Consonni (Treviglio).
Fourth official: Nicholas Turrini (Florence).
VAR: Lorenzo Maggioni (Lecco).
AVAR: Matteo Gariglio (Pinerolo).
Networks: 26th st Cianci (CT),
Note: splendid initial choreography staged by the Etna fans with red and blue cards to create awall” in the Curves and in grandstand B.
Beware: Celli (CT); Di Carmine (CT); Castellini (CT); Tello (CT), Chiricò (CT), Cianci (CT).
Unavailable: Bethers, Silvestri, Peralta (CT).
Ammonites: Cancellotti (AV); Cicerelli (CT); Cionek (AV); Monaco (CT); Quaini (CT).
Spectators: 18,523
News
First half (0-0)
1st Monaco throws Di Carmine who is held back by Cancellotti: sent off! Then the referee, called back by VAR, reviews the action on the monitor and changes his decision: only yellow card!
4th Catania close to scoring; on Zammarini’s throw… Cianci slips outside the center of the area;
7th conclusion from the edge of the area by Zammarini, deflected for a corner by a visiting defender;
8th on Patierno’s cross… Sgarbi throws the ball into the outside of the net;
19th free kick by Liotti from distance: high;
21st Bouah anticipates Patierno in front of Furlan’s goal;
29th hit and hit in the Avellino area with Tello’s final shot deflected into a corner;
30th on the cross from the flag… header to cross from Quaini with Patierno saving on the line!
45° granted 2 minutes of recovery;
47° Furlan completely rejects Sgarbi’s slightly deflected conclusion;
A lively first half ended goalless.
Second half (1-0)
1st in Avellino, Rigione takes over from the cautioned Cancellotti;
7th in Catania, the tired Cicerelli gives way to Marsura;
15th Tello blocks a dangerous shot from the center of the area!
17th in Catania, Zammarini and Tello give way to Ndoj and Kontek;
18th on the error of an Irpinia defender… Di Carmine turns in a handkerchief but his conclusion whistles wide!
24th in Avellino, Rocca and Tito take over from D’Ausilio and Liotti;
26th Catania ahead: Welbeck serves Cianci at the edge of the guest area. The number 90 turns and unleashes a great shot that goes past Ghidotti: 1-0. Explodes with joy the “Maximinus”!
33rd great free kick from distance by Castellini: Ghidotti deflects with difficulty;
34th Castellini tries again on the short clearance from the opposing defence: very high ball;
35th in Avellino, Gori and Russo replace Sgarbi and Patierno;
35th in Catania, Chiarella and Celli replace Cianci and Castellini;
38th on the cross from the flag by Ndoj… Bouah hits the goal with his head;
45° granted 5 minutes of recovery;
48° Frascatore shoots wide;
50th the referee blows the whistle on a counterattack by Chiarella1
Catania wins. Next Saturday return match at “Partenio-Lombardi” of Avellino.
Published on
May 21, 2024, 10.41pm
