For once it is the Audace Cerignola who inflicts a comeback victory, and what a comeback. The Ofantini overcome the difficult obstacle called Crotone and do it in the most spectacular way possible, recovering two goals in the last quarter of the match. The star was Filippo D’Andrea, author of the decisive hat-trick thanks to which Tisci’s team first found the goal to make it 2-2 and then achieved the overtaking in the final minutes.
FIRST HALF – Tisci confirms the classic 4-3-2-1 with D’Andrea and Leonetti supporting Malcore. In defense there are Gonnelli and Capomaggio, with Rizzo and Tentardini on the sides. Bianco is the conductor, flanked by Tascone and Ruggiero. In Crotone, Zauli confirms the 3-5-2 with Gomez and Tumminello as advanced references and D’Ursi as an offensive midfielder with the license to disengage and support the two strikers. The Calabrians started better, coming close to scoring in the 7th minute with a header from Gomez, following a perfect cross from the left by D’Ursi, which worried Krapikas.
Six minutes later, Gomez once again headed the ball close to taking the lead following a cross, this time from the right front, by Tribuzzi. These are preparatory actions for the lead that arrives in the 25th minute: Giron is launched by a great play by D’Ursi, he puts in a tense cross that sends Gonnelli into disarray whose attempt to prevent the deflection to Tumminello proves to be a double-edged sword for the most classic of own goals.
Deserved goal because it legitimizes the guests’ superiority, at least in terms of opportunities. A quarter of an hour later, the ‘sharks’ also found the second goal: Eugenio D’Ursi scored it and headed ahead of the Ofantini defenders, making the most of yet another invitation from Tribuzzi’s goal.
SECOND HALF – Tisci tries to give a shock by changing three players: Krapikas, Rizzo and Tascone off, Trezza, Russo and Sainz-Maza on. The reaction will come, even if a great Trezza is needed to deny Tumminello the hat trick at the start. The turning point came in the 22nd minute: it was scored by Malcore, who came out behind Altobelli and collected a deep throw, beating Dini. 1-2 and a changing game. Zauli recalls Vitale and Felippe, relying on Vinicius and Jurcec, but Ofantino’s forcing prevails and they find the equalizer in the 33rd minute. Sainz-Maza catches D’Andrea in the area, the former Foggia player tames and finishes with a perfect right-footed shot. 2-2.
At that point Tisci recalls Bianco, making the debut of the latest arrival Visentin. The Audace trembled on an initiative by Tumminello, who went close to the post, a few minutes before Neglia – who had just replaced Leonetti – severely challenged Dini. But the Calabrian goalkeeper’s strenuous resistance gives way under the blows of the Audace. In the 44th minute Tisci’s team finds the overtaking goal: Sainz-Maza is once again the propitiator, with a right-footed shot that engages Dini, who has to surrender to D’Andrea’s close-range rebound.
There is also time for the fourth goal, with the most classic of counterattack actions, finished by Malcore in assist mode which grants D’Andrea the joy of a hat-trick.
Audace Cerignola-Crotone 4-2: the scoreboard
BOLD CERIGNOLA (4-3-2-1) Krapikas (1’st Trezza); Rizzo (1’st Russian), Capomaggio, Gonnelli, Tentardini; Tascone (1’st Sainz-Maza), Bianco (34’st Visentin), Ruggiero; D’Andrea, Leonetti (40’st Neglia), Malcore. Available: Pinnelli, Allegrini, Coccia, Bezzon, Carnevale. All. Tisci
CROTONE (3-5-2) Dini; Papini (32’pt Bove), Altobelli, Loiacono; Tribuzzi, Vitale (28’st Jurcec), Felippe (28’st Vinicius), D’Ursi (40’st Bruzzaniti), Giron; Tumminello, Gomez. Available: Visentini, D’Alterio, Crialese, Cantisani, Stronati, Voncina. Coach: Zauli
REFEREE: Centi from Terni
SCOREERS: 25’pt auto. Gonnelli (C), 40’pt D’Ursi (C), 22’st Malcore (A), 33’st, 44’st and 50’st D’Andrea (A)
BOOKED: Rizzo (A), Loiacono (C), Dini (C), Antonelli (C)
NOTE: In the 47th minute Crotone coach Zauli was sent off for protests