Game without history ended 4-1. Match closed already in the first half with goals from Vazquez, Buonaiuto and Coda. In the second half, red to the Calabrian Brignola for protests and poker signed by Sernicola, shortens Antonini. First leg match against the Venetians on Thursday at the Zini
Oscar Maresca
May 25, 2024 (changed at 10.53pm) – MILAN
Cremonese flies, Catanzaro is eliminated. At the Zini the hosts dominate and win the Serie B playoff final. It ends 4-1: Vazquez unlocks the lead in the first minutes, then Buonaiuto, the usual Coda and Sernicola do the rest. Antonini’s only goal for the guests came only in the 80th minute. For the grey-reds everything is easy. Vivarini’s men also hit the crossbar with Vandeputte in the first half, but created very little. And in the second half there are ten men left due to Brignola’s expulsion. At Ceravolo the first leg of the semi-final ended 2-2. Stroppa’s team continues to dream of Serie A, now there is a double challenge against Vanoli’s Venezia. The first leg is scheduled to be played at the home of the worst-placed team, therefore Cremonese. We go to the pitch on Thursday 30 May. The return final at Penzo is scheduled for Sunday 2 June.
start
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Stroppa brings Coda back to the center of the attack, next to him is Vazquez. Iemmello leads the Giallorossi offensive supported by Biasci. The first flash of the match comes in the 3rd minute, when Castagnetti on a free kick forces Fulignati to fly to avoid the opening goal. Vivarini’s team attacks, but the grey-reds press high and leave no room for their opponents to set up. In the 12th minute Vazquez’s left-footed shot breaks the deadlock. Seven minutes pass and the second goal also arrives: Castagnetti serves Buonaiuto who fits in very well on the left and hits a volley. The Catanzaro goalkeeper can do nothing. The guests respond with Oliveri’s long range shot, Vandeputte also hits the crossbar. But in the 37th minute the hosts spread. Antov steals the ball, triangulates with Vazquez, the Bulgarian defender serves Coda in the center of the area who only has to push the ball into the net. It is goal number 17 in the league for the forward born in 1988. Vivarini’s men turned off the light.
recovery
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Catanzaro tries to recover in the second half, but it is an impossible mission. In the 50th minute Antonini headed a corner close to the post. Yet another defeat of the evening for the Giallorossi came in the 63rd minute: Brignola got himself sent off for protests and left his team with ten men. For Cremonese it’s a downhill finish. In the 69th minute Collocolo overtakes everyone on the right, Sernicola finds the right time to get in: it’s 4-0. Second goal of the season for the winger born in ’97. Ten minutes from the end, Antonini scored the proud goal for the guests with a header. Four minutes later Vivarini’s team halved the deficit with Donnarumma, but the referee canceled it for offside. In the first leg semi-final at Ceravolo the Grigiorossi had let their opponents overtake them after having led by two goals. This time they didn’t repeat the same mistake. There was no match at Zini. Stroppa’s team wins the playoff final. Serie A remains the objective, first there is the obstacle Venice.
the final
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One between Venezia and Cremonese will reach Parma and Como in Serie A. In the double final between home and away there will be no extra time or penalties. In case of equal results, the best ranked team will win promotion: that of Vanoli. Pohjanpalo and his teammates finished third in the standings, Stroppa’s men only fourth.
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