A Massese of strength. The play-off dream is saved

Massese 2 Sporting Cecina 1

MASSE: Cozzolino, Mapelli, Romiti, Brizzi, Andrei, Favret, Mariani, Costanzo (82' Vignali), Buffa, Anich (46' Bartolomei), Ferrara. Subs: Benassi, Bossini, Cerri, Lazzini, Nannipieri, Rami, Girelli. Coach: Pisciotta.

SPORTING CECINA: Cappellini, Fiorentini (69' Moroni), Fiorini, Ghilli (58' Lika), Startari, Cionini, Brizzi, Diagne, Skerma, El Falahi (77' Di Tanto), Olivotto (71' Fofana). Available: Gliatta, Pozzobon, Nigiotti, Lorenzini, Giovannucci. Coach Miano.

Referee: Arcoleo of Palermo; assistants La Veneziana and Checchi of Viareggio.

Scorers: 28' Mapelli (M), 34' Cionini (C), 44' Buffa (M).

Footnotes: spectators 180; corners 2-8; yellow cards for Fiorentini, Brizzi, Mariani; recovery time 2' and 5'.

Mass – The Massese beats the Cecina and thus keeps alive a feeble flame of being able to enter the play-offs. It all happened in a very effervescent first half. The Apuan team risks going behind already in the 1st minute, as has often happened: Diagne in the area hits the post. In the 15th minute Cozzolino punches a Fiorini free kick but the locals take the lead at the first available opportunity. In the 28th minute it is Mapelli, a goalscoring full-back, who headed a lateral free kick from Mariani into the net.

The advantage of the Bianconeri lasts only a few minutes because in the 34th minute Cionini, also with a header, surprises everyone at the near post intervening on a corner. Cecina also hits the post with a sensational header from Diagne after Cozzolino had come out empty. Massese is pushing for time in the final minutes. At 42' Ferrara misses a goal by kicking at the goalkeeper but at 44' he doesn't miss Buffa who, served by Costanzo, skips past a man and slots in at the near post. In the second half, the home team is good at avoiding any risk. Only in the 93rd minute does Cozzolino have to outdo himself to save a Fiorini free kick from sidereal distance for a corner.

Gianluca Bondielli