12 June 1988. Catania and Catania are shaking. There is a risk of losing Serie C1 after a troubled year, characterized by several changes on the bench. From mister Osvaldo Jaconi to Pietro Santin, passing through Bruno Pace with Angelo Attaguile President. Catania (30 points in the standings), placed in fifteenth place and had to play in the play-offs to avoid C2 (Brindisi had the same score but survived thanks to the separate ranking, ed.).
Opponent Nocerina at the “San Vito” stadium. The Elephant managed to get the better of the Campania team 2-0 with just under 10,000 red and blue hearts present in Cosenza. Giancarlo Marini in the 9th minute and Carlo Borghi in the 48th minute gave Catania salvation, breathing a big sigh of relief at the end of a truly difficult season. Nocerina, however, was relegated together with Teramo and Puteolana.
Below are some statements released a few years ago by Borghi to the microphones of TuttoCalcioCatania.comremembering that match:
“The team was equipped, but unfortunately things don’t always go right. The various coaching changes were symptomatic of the problems encountered. Maybe we felt too strong, we didn’t take the field with the right concentration. Then you enter a tunnel from which it becomes difficult to get out. They are those years that are born in a certain way and become difficult to straighten out. It could have been even worse. The match in Cosenza was the only great satisfaction of that championship. We found ourselves playing this play-off so as not to be relegated. I remember that we went to training camp a few days before, there was a certain tension as it was a one-off game that was worth a season. Then the match immediately went well, we won 2-0 without risking much. Giancarlo Marini broke the deadlock, I closed it at 2-0. We played well, demonstrating our strength on the field. We were much stronger than Nocerina. We were also contested that season, but in times of need the Catania fan showed all his support. There was the desire to redeem a disappointing year. In these situations, physical appearance matters a lot. We arrived physically ready, but also mentally. There were all the conditions to do well and so it was”.
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