Turin-Monza 1-0: Sanabria's penalty knocks out the Brianza team

Turin, 30 March 2024 – The surprise in the Easter egg opened a day early from the Turin. Under the deluge that hit the Grande Torino Olympic Stadium, the granata have in fact defeated Monza 1-0 and have overtaken them in the standings, bringing themselves to just one point behind Napoli who currently occupy seventh place, the last one that leads straight to a place in Europe. It was all decided the penalty earned by Ricci and converted in the 69th minute by substitute Sanabria, who unblocked a match that in the first half was very tactical and lacking in great emotions. Just before the goal, however, the match had changed face with Toro who seemed to have taken control of the game with conviction and who had become dangerous thanks to Buongiorno and Okereke. The situation then even worsened the Brianza players in the 72nd minute, when - after conceding the 1-0 - they were also left with ten men due to the expulsion of Pessina, who was booked twice in the space of three minutes (the first for the penalty) for irregularities committed against by Ricci. The numerical superiority therefore clearly put the match downhill for Toro who had the strength to protect the result in the final, coming close to an encore with Zapata's long-range strike in the 85th minute, but also risking something too much in full recovery when Lovato came into contact with Mota, sparking strong protests from Monza who loudly demanded a penalty then not awarded despite VAR control.

First half

The start is decidedly aggressive on both fronts: after less than 2' the Granata try with a descent on the right by Bellanova which forces Di Gregorio to intervene with two hands to ward off the threat, while Monza responds immediately with the well-prepared but too weak left foot from Colpani, at the culmination of an action that started with construction from the bottom. As the minutes passed, due to the pouring rain in Philadelphia and a mirrored way - albeit with different modules - of setting up the game and pressing the opponents high in the covering phase, the pace lowered and the match became increasingly similar to a game of chess: Toro tries with greater conviction and gradually takes possession of the ball and tries to make himself dangerous with Zapata who twice finds Izzo in his way to avert the danger. However, the real emotions are absent at least until the 35th minute, when Monza is the one to be seen around Milinkovic-Savic with Colpani's poisonous conclusion, which is deflected towards the back by Ricci's heel. A blaze that restores some vigor to the Brianza team, who manage to close the first forward but not break the deadlock.  

Second half

The game restarts with Torino more on the ball, which after 4' he creates an important opportunity with Zapata who, caught by Rodriguez's long and millimetric throw, is unable to direct the ball well one-on-one with Milinkovic-Savic. The Granata's play volume is high and between the 52nd and 54th minute Buongiorno also tries, with a header stopped by Di Gregorio's excellent diving save, and then with Okereke's right-footed low shot. Sensing his team's moment of difficulty, Palladino then decided to revolutionize the left-wing chain by inserting Pedro Pereira and Mota in place of Carboni and Maldini. The shock arrives and turns into the goring of Djuric who in the 59th minute, from the heart of the area, narrowly fails to frame the opponent's goal. A few minutes later it was also time for the first substitution of the Granata brand: the entry of Sanabria in place of Zapata. A move that will prove decisive, because in the 69th minute the Paraguayan attacker broke the deadlock by converting the penalty kicked by Ricci, held in the middle of the area by Pessina. With his team finishing below the score, Palladino then decides to throw Caldirola and Valentin Carboni into the mix and switch to a substantial 3-4-3, but in the 72nd minute another tile hits the Brianza players: already booked during the rigour, Pessina enters midfield late, still on Ricci and gets his second yellow card, leaving his team outnumbered. The fact of finding themselves playing with the extra man and the advantage greatly facilitates the task of the Granata who in the final straight of the race, also thanks to the freshness of the newcomers Lovato and Masina, manage to cover themselves and bring home three very good points. heavy, even coming close to an encore with Zapata's long-range shot in the 85th minute. Nothing to do, therefore, for theMonza complains loudly in recovery time but in vain a penalty for a contact in the middle of the area between Lovato and Mota. The scoreboard: Turin (3-4-1-2): Milinkovic-Savic; Tameze (from 82' Lovato), Buongiorno, Rodriguez (from 82' Masina); Bellanova, Ricci, Linetty, Lazaro; Vlasic; Okereke (from 62' Sanabria), Zapata. All Djuric Monza (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Birindelli (Zerbin from 77'), Izzo, Marì, A. Carboni (Pedro Pereira from 57'); Akpa Akpro (Caldirola from 70'), Gagliardini; Colpani (from 70' Valentin Carboni), Maldini (from 57' Mota), Pessina; Djuric. All. Palladino. Scorers: Sanabria (69' R). Note - Yellow cards: Pessina (sent off for a second yellow card), Caldirola.