With a wonderful goal from Hernani and a lethal sprint from Caso, AC Monza won 2-0 in Catanzaro in the first leg of the Serie BKT playoff finals, moving closer to the dream of Serie A.
The Brianzoli were not intimidated by the electric atmosphere at the Ceravolo and started with confidence. At 4’ a long passing move led to a powerful right-footed strike by Birindelli that crashed against the crossbar, sending shivers through the stadium. At 7’ a dangerous cross from Colpani failed to find any white-and-red player ready to connect. Monza looked in control of the game and kept pushing for the opener. At 13’ there was an incredible goal-line clearance by Petriccione after Cutrone nearly repeated the spectacular long-range empty-net goal he had scored in the return leg against Juve Stabia. Monza’s number 10 was on fire and at 14’ unleashed a fierce first-time right-footed shot after a brilliant run by Birindelli: Pigliacelli pushed it away for a corner. Monza came extremely close to taking the lead twice within a few seconds. Catanzaro survived and responded at 15’ with Pittarello, who fired over the bar on the run with his left foot. The Calabrians grew in confidence and kept attacking. At 27’ Petriccione cleverly anticipated Thiam, but the away defense was alert on the cross from the giallorosso number 10. Paolo Bianco replaced the injured Ravanelli at 31’, bringing on Delli Carri. Catanzaro relied on the quality of some individual players, such as captain Iemmello who at 32’ started a fine move down the left, finished by a left-footed volley from Pontisso that went over the bar. Monza threatened again near the end of the first half. After an attempt from Azzi flew over the crossbar, at 46’ Cutrone once again took aim and struck hard with his right foot: Pigliacelli held onto it. It was 0-0 at halftime.
Bianco played the Hernani card at the start of the second half. The first chance was for Monza with a dangerous shot-cross from Birindelli that Pigliacelli tipped over for a corner at 49’. The match remained intense and thrilling in the second half as well. Catanzaro threatened at 62’ with a right-footed diagonal shot from Pontisso that whistled just wide. At 64’ Bianco brought on Petagna. The woodwork count was evened up at 67’, when Pittarello hit the crossbar with a header. Monza replied with a through ball for Cutrone, who was intercepted at the last moment and unsuccessfully appealed for a corner. Bianco made a double substitution at 73’, turning to the experience of Obiang and the unpredictability of Caso. Another Monza player, Hernani, pulled a rabbit out of the hat at 77’, smashing a stunning long-range right-footed strike into the top corner and silencing the Ceravolo. It was the sixth goal of the season and the most beautiful and important one for the Brazilian who arrived in January, sparking wild celebrations among the biancorossi fans. Catanzaro suffered the blow, but in the closing stages showed pride and at 87’ substitute Di Francesco narrowly missed the corner with a left-footed diagonal shot. Monza, however, made no mistake and at 89’ Petagna released the pace of Caso, who beat two yellow-and-red defenders and finished coolly to make it 0-2. The speed shown by Monza’s number 30 to burst clear on his own before scoring his second goal for the club was astonishing. It was a hugely significant goal in the context of the two-legged final. The match ended 2-0 for Bianco’s side, who ran to celebrate beneath the away section.
There is one final step left in the dream of Serie A: the return leg on Friday, May 29th at 8:00 PM at the U-Power Stadium.
