Pistoiese fails the big exam. A heavy KO at Melani: Forlì party

PISTOIESE

0

FORLÌ

2

PISTOIESE (3-5-2) Cecchini; Mazzei, Polvani, Accardi; Cuomo (from 23' st Stickler), Greselin, Maldonado (from 29' pt Valentini), Basanisi (from 35' st Grilli), Maloku (from 35' st Balleello); Sparacello, Pinzauti (from 6' st Larhrib). Subs. Lo Piano, Dibenedetto, Paci, Foresta. Coach Villa

FORLÌ (4-3-3) Martelli; Mandrelli, Sbardella, Drudi, Graziani (from 45' st Visani); Campagna (from 36' st Saporetti), Menarini, Gaiola; Farinelli (from 49' st Valentini), Petrelli (from 38' st Okitokandjo), Macrì (from 44' st Lombardi). Zamagni, Rossi, Eleonori, Masini available. Coach Miramari

REFEREE Grieco from Ascoli Piceno

SCORERS Petrelli 31' pt, Graziani 20' st

NOTE Corners 6-2. Accardi, Gaiola, Basanisi, Mazzei, Menarini, Drudi booked. Cecchini sent off in the 28th minute of the first half. 4', 4' added time.

PISTOIA

Pistoiese fails the acid test. Or rather, it fails the test in terms of the result, but provides the elements needed to find positive ideas even after a 0-2 home defeat, which also sent the oranges back to minus eight from the top now occupied jointly by Tau and Forlì. How can the glass be half full at the end of a defeat against a direct contender for promotion?

To find the answer, we need to look back at the first half hour of Pistoiese's game. A compact team when not in possession, quick and precise with the ball at their feet and capable of coming close to taking the lead three times in 25 minutes. First with Greselin, whose shot hit the base of the post, followed by Pinzauti, author of a left-footed diagonal shot that ended just wide, and finally with Basanisi, blocked when shooting in the heart of the penalty area. Then, however, after 28 turns of the clock, here comes the episode that turns the tide of the contest. Cecchini miscalculates the timing of his exit and ends up bringing down Petrelli at the gates of the penalty area. For Mr. Grieco of Ascoli Piceno there are no doubts: free kick from the edge and red card for the 2006 player in the yellow uniform. Petrelli steps up to the ball and the execution is perfect, with the ball nestling under the crossbar.

The orange team starts to react but the numerical inferiority prevents Polvani and his teammates from stinging incisively. In the second half the emotions diminish, with Forlì preferring to put the game to sleep and strike on the counterattack as happens in the 20th minute, when after a shot by Macrì saved by Valentini, Graziani signs the double. The closing credits on the match start early: Pistoiese leaves the Melani defeated and will have to try to close 2024 by obtaining six points with Corticella and Tau Altopascio. Otherwise the road, which is already uphill, would become really tortuous.

Michele Flori