Parma smiles again and does so in the most important moment of the championship. The 2-0 against Spezia, overcome with a goal in each half and a game always in control, brings the Crociati back to the victory that had been missing for 180′. Hernani and Charpentier consolidate first place and send Parma to 69. Two points more than last year’s steamroller, Frosinone. +10 on the current third, Cremonese, +5 on second Como. Even 22 points more than last season after 33 matchdays. A leap forward engraved in the numbers that brings Parma closer to direct Serie A. A goal that has been missing for three seasons. The Crusaders’ project proves successful at every latitude. Young people owned, which rhyme with quality. Apart from some physiological slowdowns, in this championship Pecchia’s team has failed very few times. It is the twentieth victory, the tenth at home. A nice response to the last two matches which ended without goals. A heavy victory in a tense match, governed by palpable tension before and during, especially in the first half. All the power of Hernani’s right-footed shot was needed to banish the tension of a first half played at a slower pace, probably due to the heat, and ended with eight shots towards the opponent’s goal, one goal scored and one canceled out (rightly) by VAR who saw Bonny’s stomp on Hristov again after the Frenchman’s shot had ended up in the goal. Goal invalidated and yellow for the attacker, who appeared not very lucid. Among the Parma players, who haven’t won in two games, the ball at their feet is also starting to burn. Time is running out, some confidence is wavering after two points in two games and zero goals. The lead is still reassuring, the defeat of Cremonese puts the Curva Nord in a good mood and it begins to roar from minute 0. But the pace doesn’t increase.
Spezia was almost entirely in Kouda’s play who, at 0-0 once went ahead of Chichizola who was good at not taking advantage of his feints, another time he kicked in a dirty manner without worrying the Argentine goalkeeper. Parma closed the first half on the front foot after dominating it for a long time, despite taking risks in a couple of circumstances. It fits if you include an opponent who comes from three draws and two victories in the last five and a great heat that weighs down Pecchia’s players extremely. Cyprien is unresponsive, Mihaila is distracted. In addition to a shot on goal that finds a great Zoet, the Romanian becomes a negative protagonist in at least two or three situations where he clearly could have done better. It’s reasonable to expect it from someone with his technique. Pecchia tries to give phosphorus and speed to the maneuver with Estevez and Partipilo for a light Camara and a dull Bonny. Of course, the Frenchman would need some space to unleash his run, but it’s complicated to find it between D’Angelo’s two lines.
That starts the recovery better. His drivers have to recover and leave with their foot pressed on the accelerator. Quickly, Spezia tries to get back on track, but gets the best opportunity almost by chance. Kouda does something halfway between a shot and a cross that ends up on the outside post. Then Circati gives the thrill to his fans. In an attempt to clear the area from a cross, he directs the ball grazing the crossbar. Charpentier takes care of closing it by taking advantage of a distraction from Zoet. The Dutch goalkeeper’s smooth shot opens the way for the general who comfortably deposits it into the net and celebrates in the 87th minute. It ends in celebration. The applause from the North is very long, longer than usual. A sign that this victory is worth more than three points.