Forty-five years ago Parma achieved a historic promotion from Serie C to Serie B. Historic also for the performers who made a dream come true at the end of a play-off played until the last second of extra time on the neutral pitch of Menti against Triestina . The two teams ended the regular season on equal points, so another match was necessary to confirm promotion.
The many Crusader fans will remember the adrenaline of that match, the journey to Vicenza to go and support the yellow and blue. Over four thousand supporters singing, rejoicing and pushing the kids onto the field “with their voices”. Boranga, Caneo, Torresani, Braida, Scarpa, Ancelotti are just some of the names in the starting lineup led by Cesare Maldini, at the beginning of his coaching career before taking important steps in Italian football.
A balanced match played with that pinch of fear necessary to keep concentration high. Scarpa’s free kick kicked things off: 1-0 Parma with the party in the stands all yellow and blue. It was Panozzo who brought everything back into balance for the final draw. Extra time: 30 minutes more to play for the chances of promotion and it is precisely at that moment that the mastery of Carlo Ancelotti takes center stage: an intelligent midfielder with supreme quality – it is no coincidence that after the promotion he went to Roma in Serie A in the summer market -. It was he who scored the decisive brace, first on the inside and then on a precise free kick with his right foot, and who sent the entire sector occupied by over four thousand Parma fans into ecstasy. A historic and unforgettable day for all Crusader supporters, even today 45 years later.
