Lecce returned from the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia with three points after a 3-1 victory over Albinoleffe in an eventful match. Daniele Corvia was the hero as he scored a brace for the Salentini on 31 and 69 minutes, while defender Alberto Giuliatto completed the scoring for the visitors with a controversial goal as it was unclear if the ball actually crossed the line. The hosts scored through Gabriele Perico during the 55th minute to narrow the deficit to 2-1, before Corvia ensured the Salentini returned home with full points. The tifosi also witnessed the home side’s Coach Emiliano Mondonico get sent-off for dissent.

Former joint-leaders Ancona continued their woeful away form as they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico Carlo Zecchini. The visitors were very disappointing and played all the second-half with 10 players, after Surraco was given marching orders for a second booking towards the end of the first period. Grosseto scored through Brazilian forward Joelson from the penalty spot and Mauricio Pinilla at the beginning of the second half.

Cesena climbed to third place following a convincing 4-0 triumph over struggling Frosinone. The goals came in the form of a brace from Emanuele Giaccherini, while Cristian Bucchi and Ezequiel Matias Schelotto added one each to the cause. The three scorers are on-loan from Roma, Napoli and Atalanta respectively. Schelotto is actually part-owned by Atalanta and Cesena. The young emerging winger has attracted the attention of some of the top clubs in Italy following his solid performances this season.

Empoli are now fourth after returning from Brescia with a precious 2-2 draw. The home side dominated much of the encounter and were ahead on both occasions only for the visitors to claw their way back into the match each time. Former Sampdoria and Italy international Andrea Caracciolo struck twice for the Rondinelle while the visitors scored their two goals through Brazilian striker Eder. The point was snatched by the hitman through a spot-kick in injury time. The hosts will feel hard done by as they deserved to emerge winners after a solid display in front of the tifosi.

Torino finally broke their string of negative results and beat hosts Gallipoli 1-0 courtesy of a goal scored by club captain and former Italy international David Di Michele. The visitors faced a bizarre situation as their new coach Mario Beretta was not allowed to sit on the beach, since his clearance will arrive only on Monday. This meant that the assistant manager Daniele Zoratto had to act on behalf of the boss. Il Toro have climbed to sixth spot following this precious win.

In a clash between two relegation candidates, Reggina were able to defeat hosts Ascoli 3-1 to temporarily pull even further away from the relegation zone. The match witnessed a controversial incident when the hosts opened the scoring through Mirco Antenucci, who benefited from Vincenzo Sommese’s play on the injured Carlos Valdez. Reggina’s Andrea Costa was sent-off as the enraged defender struck the culpable Sommese. Play was stopped for several minutes and when the game resumed Ascoli’s coach Bepi Pillon asked his players to allow Reggina’s Pagano to draw the teams level. In the second-half Reggina would strike twice to secure all three points through Emiliano Bonazzoli and Antonino Barilla.

In other results, Triestina wasted two points in a 0-0 draw with Crotone while Mantova and Salernitana drew 1-1 in the bottom of the table clash. The visiting Salernitana appear to be headed toward relegation, while the hosts are not in a much better position despite the seven points that separate the two sides. Both goals were scored in the first-half through Gaetano Caridi for the hosts and Andrea Tricarico for the last placed team in the league.

Cittadella held visitors Modena to a 1-1 draw in another match that witnessed some controversy, as the home side were denied a late goal through substitute Matteo Teoldi. The defender’s attempt was appeared to have been cleared after it crossed the goal line. The home side took the lead through a penalty from Matteo Ardemagni, while Michele Troiano scored early in the second-half to bring the sides level.

In the last match from the weekend, Sassuolo defeated visitors Padova through two goals in the second period from Jonathan Rossini and Mario Titone. Rossini – who is on loan from Udinese – scored on the hour mark while Titone’s long-distance strike came in stoppage time.

The results are as follows:

Sassuolo  2-0 Padova
Cittadella 1-1 Modena
Triestina 0-0 Crotone
Albinoleffe 1-3 Lecce
Grosseto 2-0 Ancona
Cesena  4-0 Frosinone
Brescia 2-2 Empoli
Gallipoli 0-1 Torino
Ascoli 1-3 Reggina
Mantova 1-1 Salernitana

Rami Soufi, Football Italiano