Let’s summarize all the victories achieved by Catania in the last season. After having focused on the first 14 successes of the 2023/24 season, there is room for the return to winning the three points for the rossozzurri at the “Massimino” against the former Giuseppe Raffaele’s Audace Cerignola on 15 March. A very hard-fought 2-1 for the Etna team, who hadn’t won overall since February 28th (Catania 2-0 Rimini) and, in the championship, from 18 February (Catania 2-0 Juve Stabia).
Catania struggled in the presence of a Cerignola who had the demerit of not realizing the opportunities he produced, with the exception of Malcore’s temporary equalizer. Slow pace in the first half, Catania willing but developing an all-too-predictable maneuver with breakout attempts that are easy for the visiting defense to read. In the 23rd minute Chiricò tries with an appreciable conclusion, which ends up over the crossbar. In the 35th minute, an important episode: Chiricò is knocked down by Ruggiero in the middle of the penalty area. Chiricò himself takes charge of the penalty and converts it. Before the break, another good opportunity for Catania: Marsura resists Visentin’s pressure and then loads the conclusion from the edge, finding the rebound from Krapikas.
In the second half the guests took to the field with a much more aggressive attitude. The ball of the game is in the hands of the yellow and blues who run much stronger than Catania, physically collapsed and holed up in their own half of the pitch. At 47′ Etna pardoned by Malcore: great opportunity wasted by the yellow-blue bomber, who in the center of the penalty area, face to face with Furlan, shoots wide. The light goes out, Cerignola presses and deservedly equalizes the scores in the 58th minute: shot from outside by Capomaggio, series of rebounds with the ball reaching the feet of Malcore who this time makes no mistake.
The 1-1 yellow-blue draw does not shake Catania who, on the contrary, continues to suffer from the attacks of the Apulians. Around the 70th minute, Zeoli’s team had to say thanks to Furlan, who made two excellent interventions: first the flight on Leonetti’s header, then he says no to Vuthaj’s violent left-footed conclusion. The “Massimino” is noisy, Catania in a doll, the Catania defense risks in other circumstances. But football is not an exact science. And then it happens in the moment of great, great difficulty the rossozzurri pulled their heads out of their shell and found the winning goal: in the 83rd minute a tense cross from Castellini, Zammarini appears in the area and beats Krapikas. The yellow and blue are not having it, they move forward in the hope of rebalancing the match. Leonetti misses the goal to make it 2-2, dangerous crosses pour into the area, there is a lot of suffering but, somehow, Catania’s defense holds up. The Elephant team wins, an imprecise and unlucky Cerignola is punished.
VIDEO: highlights of the challenge
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