After a thrilling game 3, Publiesse Pallamano Chiaravalle won the last available ticket for the semi-finals of promotion to Serie A Gold, beating an excellent Orlando Haenna 23-22.
The playoff match to continue the Gold race opens with the marking of Brutti from Chiaravalle after 3 minutes of play in which the two teams were practically equal both in attack and defense. From here Mario Sanchez, in goal for Publiesse, closes the shutter and the Sicilians will only manage to score 4 goals in the entire first half. In the meantime, Chiaravalle does everything perfect in attack, with great heartfelt plays from Guerrero and Morettin, who score and create play for their teammates, ending the first half at 12-4. The second half sees Haenna take to the field with the need to recover lost ground.
Up to the 52nd the Sicilians only partially succeeded in the feat, reaching up to -4 from the Marches. Here during a counterattack by Mazzone from Enna, Brutti from Chiaravalle attempts a defensive recovery but ends up committing a foul. For the referee there is no doubt: he is red. This event gives courage to Orlando Haenna who grabs the equalizer 22-22 with 1 minute left. An offensive action follows for Chiaravalle and Del Curto, closed by 3 men, gets a penalty. Morettin takes charge of the serve and, 13 seconds from time, beats Coppola and scores a very heavy goal, perhaps the heaviest of the season. A final action by Enna follows in which, once again, Morettin anticipates his opponents by throwing her out and ending the match. In the roar of the public that filled the city sports hall, Chiaravalle passed and went to the semi-final against Metelli Cologne.
Biancoblu coach Andrea Guidotti commented on the match as follows: “First of all, congratulations to Enna who didn’t give up anything and after a shocking journey two days after the last match gave everything until the final whistle. I coach a fantastic group, a path that has been going on for three years now, first achieving historic salvation, then promotion to Silver and this year the playoffs for Gold. It’s something crazy, all 22 of the squad have given something magical throughout the championship and, for my part, I wanted to bring the young boys into the first team and make them debut in important matches, as we saw today in Capatina, but also the various Mandolini, Battistelli, Babbini, Salmonti and Chiappini during the season.”
Then he concludes: “The biggest thanks go to President Maltoni, to Gianluca Sampaolo, Marco Tanfani, Loretta Grilli, all the managers, the entire communications team, our custodian, all those who follow us with passion and the sponsors without whom this dream would not be possible. See you in the semi-final.” Now Chiaravalle has a week to prepare for Game 1 of the semi-final, away in Lombardy against Metelli Cologne on Saturday 18 May, while Game 2 will be played in Chiaravalle on Thursday 23 May. In case of a draw, Game 3 will be on Saturday 25 May, again in Chiaravalle. Public Handball Chiaravalle
The Scoreboard
PUBLIESSE HANDBALL CHIARAVALLE: 23 ORLANDO HAENNA: 22
CHIARAVALLE: Sanchez, Morettin 5, Vichi, Del Curto 3, Selimi, Guerrero 3, Castillo 2, Ceresoli, Brutti 4, Santinelli G. 4, Capatina 1, Solustri 1, Babbini, Ballabio, Santinelli O., Guidotti. All. Guidotti.
ENNA: Avram, Caruso 6, Guarasci, Giummarra, Russello 6, Santoro, Coppola, Verdino 2, Mazzone, Guggino 3, Rosso 5, Merlo. All. Gulino.
