Another sensational harakiri, yet another this season: Palermo throws away another victory, drawing 2-2 against Ascoli at the Barbera at the end. Caligara’s brace, in the 92nd minute, scores the equalizer from the Marche and puts sixth place in the standings at risk. The Rosanero will necessarily have to win in Bolzano, on Friday evening against Sudtirol, to guarantee the certainty of playing the first round of the playoffs at home. And to say that the match was going well for the home team, taking the lead after less than a minute through Brunori. Then Caligara’s equalizer with a header, which Desplanches (on his debut) was unable to get away with. Soleri brings the pink team back ahead in the 34th minute, again with a header. But in the second half Mignani’s team dropped too low, as often happened during the championship, and conceded the field to Ascoli who believed in it. Carrera’s team found the equalizer with a gem from Caligara in the 92nd minute: the pinks hadn’t won at home for practically three months, and in general they hadn’t found the three points in almost two months (last success in Lecco on March 10th).
Mignani amaro: “We deserved to win” | The interviews
Desplanches makes his debut in goal
Mignani confirms the lineup anticipated by PalermoToday and tested on the eve, with only one surprise: the debut between the posts of the young Desplanches. For the last home match of the season, the Italian talent is finally rewarded. Palermo started very strongly and after 58 seconds Brunori scored with a powerful right foot: the captain was served very well by Soleri, after a good job of protecting the ball, and was very cold in front of Vasquez. Seventeenth goal for the captain, equaling last season’s haul. Palermo turns the ball around quickly, the rosanero’s phrasing is clean and finds good outlets in the lanes. Gomes seems inspired, the Frenchman passes well and recovers several balls. In the 12th minute the hosts came close to doubling their lead: Brunori slipped away and put in an excellent ball for Diakitè who however missed the target from a very interesting position. In the 27th minute Ascoli, in their first real offensive outing, found the goal: Nedelcearu missed a clearance and restarted the opponent’s action, Caligara headed a cross from Celia’s left wing and beat Desplanches. The 2003 class perhaps could have done a bit more with his initial positioning, then tries to play around but is unable to avoid the goal.
In addition to the Romanian defender’s initial error, the defense was still poorly positioned in the marking phase. In the 34th minute, however, Soleri brought the rosanero back ahead: a nice diving header from the 27th minute on an acrobatic assist from Segre. The first half ends with a score of 2-1 in favor of Mignani’s team: the rosanero played decidedly better football than in their last outings (although it wasn’t that difficult), playing with pace and speed. They conceded little to their opponents, scoring on their first and only real chance. Mignani’s 3-5-2 today, with two midfielders alongside Gomes, seems to be decidedly more pragmatic.
Palermo in reserve
The second half begins without changes, on both sides. Palermo’s possession isn’t as fluid as in the first half, Ascoli puts more pressure on the ball carrier and the home team doesn’t find clean exits. In the 56th minute, first substitution for Mignani: Henderson comes on in place of Gomes, slightly injured after a tackle. Palermo dangerously lowers their center of gravity, giving Carrera’s team a lot of space. In the 67th minute another change, Ranocchia out and Di Francesco in. In the 72nd minute Desplanches was ready after a close shot from Nestorovski, the Rosanero goalkeeper was on time. The rosanero’s fuel tank seems to be in reserve, Mignani’s team is struggling to build and start moving forward. With eight to go, Brunori is out for Mancuso, Marconi and Stulac are also back on the pitch in place of Ceccaroni and Nedelcearu. In the 84th minute, Di Francesco’s shot, Vasquez doesn’t hold back and the ball sensationally hits the post and then remains on the line: Ascoli is saved. In the 92nd minute, incredible equalizer for Ascoli: long-range bomb from Caligara, left-footed, who beats Desplanches again. The ending is the usual at Barbera: the team leaves amidst deafening whistles.
Scoreboard and report cards
PALERMO (3-5-2): Desplanches 6; Nedelcearu 5 (82′ Stulac sv), Lucioni 5.5, Ceccaroni 5.5 (82′ Marconi sv); Diakité 5.5, Segre 6, Gomes 6.5 (56′ Henderson 5), Ranocchia 6 (67′ Di Francesco 5.5), Lund 5.5; Soleri 6.5, Brunori 6.5 (82′ Mancuso sv). Coach: Mignani 5.
ASCOLI (3-5-1-1): Vasquez 5.5; Bellusci 5.5, Box office 5.5, Mantovani 5.5; Falzerano 6 (82′ Duris sv), Valzania 5.5 (56′ Rodriguez 6), Di Tacchio 5.5 (56′ Masini 6), Celia 6.5 (65′ D’Uffizi 6), Zedadka 6.5; Caligara 7.5; Tarantino 5.5 (56′ Nestorovski 6). Coach: Carrera 6.
Referee: Di Bello (Brindisi) 6.
Networks: 1′ Brunori, 27′ Caligara, 34′ Soleri, 92′ Caligara.
Ammonites: 16′ Diakité, 46′ Di Tacchio, 72′ Henderson, 90′ Lucioni.
Spectators: 18,308 (12,603 season ticket holders, 5,705 tickets sold).
