Sassari Thanks Torres himself. You made the city experience great emotions. You come out of the playoffs with your head held high, victim of an episode, of Paleari’s saves, his best yesterday and with luck that has turned your face. The Campania team progressed but over the course of the two games they didn’t deserve to move forward. Many doubts remain in the last action when a Torres player was dragged in the area but the referee first almost motioned to look at the spot, then changed his mind and let the game play. The Var? Which sparked violent protests from the rossoblù, which continued even at the end of the match. What remains is the applause that the over six thousand fans gave to a team that deserves to be praised for what it has done. Benevento spent at least five times the budget of Sassari, but this difference was never seen on the pitch. Not on the outward journey, much less on the return journey. There remains much regret but the awareness that we can start again on solid foundations and a management that has many ambitions.
Choices Greco doesn’t change. Continue with Mastinu in midfield and Ruocco floating between the lines. It’s a front-wheel drive Torres, the only change compared to the Benevento race is Diakite. He takes the place of Fischnaller who is suffering from a muscle problem and sits on the bench. The objective is to attack an opponent who presents himself with the same formation as the first leg. Quick players in the lanes but not as skilled in the non-possession phase. Auteri plays it safe knowing he has a long bench.
Spron beaten Torres takes off like a rocket. The rossoblù players are furious as they create three chances and in one of these it is the crossbar that says no to Scotto’s header, who however is offside. The people from Sassari have a great competitive energy, they keep the lines between the departments tight, they attack high, they immediately put a static defense into difficulty which is hard work if caught at speed. The visiting team begins to waste time from the first minutes and receives a barrage of whistles. The Campanians don’t find outlets because Torres always doubles in all areas of the pitch, attacks spaces, exploits the lanes and every now and then finds interesting openings. It’s an intense match, played to the wire. It is the Sassari team that has the ball in their hands and is still close to scoring in at least a couple of circumstances. Paleari seems unsurpassable.
Same cliché Torres has the ball in her hands but with the difference that Benevento defends better than in the first part of the match, covers the spaces, starts again trying to dribble. The “Witch” occasionally tries to make some sorties forward. Torres is too foul in her passes, even the easy ones, and this nips potential dangerous situations in the bud. A goal by Diakite is disallowed but Idda is offside, according to the referee. Very questionable decision. There is a melee in the area, the referee stops the game and pulls out the red card for Zecca guilty of hitting an opponent. Torres remains with ten men. She’s generous, she tries, her strength is almost exhausted. Bolsius is also expelled for protests. The ending is bedlam. Benevento wastes time, Torres attacks but fails to find that goal that would have opened the doors to the semi-final. It’s an elimination that stings because the rossoblù played on par with their opponent and for long stretches even better. Doubts remain above all about the final tug on Dametto who had his shirt torn off. The TV images confirm that the foul is there and it is clear. But not for the referee who, after yesterday’s performance, may not be promoted to the higher Can.
