Four games from Week 19 were postponed due to the extreme weather. The weekend’s top clash featured Cesena taking on league leaders Lecce. This round was prominent for the lack of draws and witnessed victories by all home sides.

The hosts were impressive and the score could actually have been greater as the Cavallucci Marini dominated proceedings and were leading by three goals, before a late consolation goal by Daniele Corvia made the score more respectable for the visitors. The match witnessed the sending off of Lecce’s Raffaele Schiavi with Cesena up by two goals. The three winning goals were scored by Brazilian Guilherme Do Prado, who had a double with the first coming from the penalty spot, before Giaccherini registered his team’s third and last goal. Cesena are now just two points behind Lecce while second place Ancona did not get to play.

In another match, Vicenza deepened the crisis at Torino after beating the visitors 1-0 thanks to a 79th minute lob from Alessandro Sgrigna. Il Toro are now in tenth place and have been leapfrogged by the Berici. They must regroup quickly or the season will be lost amid the growing discontent among the tifosi concerning the team’s unconvincing performances.

Elsewhere, Brescia continued their fine home form achieving their sixth home win with a 1-0 victory over Modena. The game was full of late drama as the goal was scored by substitute Francesco Flachi with two minutes left on the clock and was followed by a late equaliser for the visitors that was disallowed. The Rondinelle will be happy with the three points but their season has been far too inconsistent. The club’s management are focused on winning promotion to Serie A, yet the struggles away from home could prove costly.

The round’s biggest surprise came at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia where Albinoleffe beat visitors Empoli who failed to rise to the top of the division following the defeat. The Celeste scored a goal each half through Gabriele Perico and veteran defender Luigi Sala – a former Milan player – to seal the precious victory that helped the side pull away from the relegation zone.

Struggling Ascoli achieved an important 1-0 victory over Padova. The goal came courtesy of a quick own-goal which was scored by Andrea Soncin after two minutes. In another clash, Grosseto jumped over Frosinone in the standings after defeating the visitors 2-1 courtesy of goals by Mauricio Pinilla, from the penalty- spot, and Carl Valeri in a match which witnessed three red cards. The visitors had two players sent-off on the 45th minute with Domenico Maietta and Lorenzo Del Prete receiving their marching orders while Grosseto’s Luis Maria Alfageme was red carded in stoppages. Fabio Mazzeo, on loan from Perugia, grabbed the consolation goal for Frosinone in the second-half.

The final match took place at the Stadio Via del Mare where Gallipoli achieved a come-from-behind 2-1 win over visiting Reggina. Emiliano Bonazzoli scored for the visitors to give them a 1-0 half-time lead before Manuel Mancini and Massimiliano Scaglia struck in the second period to lead the hosts to victory.

Here are the results:

Albinoleffe 2-0 Empoli
Ascoli 1-0 Padova
Brescia 1-0 Modena
Cesena 3-1 Lecce
Gallipoli 2-1 Reggina
Grosseto 2-1 Frosinone
Vicenza 1-0 Torino

Rami Soufi, Football Italiano