MONZA SHINES: 3-0 IN PALERMO

A great Monza conquers Palermo's Barbera 3-0, wins its fourth consecutive victory and jumps to only one point from the first  place in the standings, inflicting the rosanero's first home defeat.

The Sicilians try to start strong, driven by the very hot home crowd, but the Brianza players are solid and don't allow space. The first opportunity comes from a cross from Pohjanpalo which becomes treacherous at 9’ thanks to a deflection, but Thiam is very good at removing the ball from the nearest post. The former Ranocchia tries with his left foot at 19’, but without luck. At 21’, Azzi recovered a ball lost by the Sicilians in the middle of the field and flew to the left: Ceccaroni's intervention to anticipate Dany Mota was providential on his cross. The race is vibrant and the stakes are being felt. At 28’ Diakitè tries to surprise Thiam who is still reactive in the corner clearance. Monza responded blow for blow and came very close to taking the lead at 35’. Keita spreads panic on the left and puts Obiang in the middle where he arrives in a slide with his right foot as his first intention: Joronen is amazing at lifting the ball into a corner. Guest advantage is only postponed by four minutes. Obiang draws Dany Mota with a millimeter throw, who burns Peda at speed, dribbles Joronen and deposits into the net for the 0-1 which silences Barbera. Third consecutive goal, fourth in the league and number 39 with the Monza shirt for the wild Portuguese striker. Palermo suffers the blow and the first half finale is all red-and-white. In the left 45’ of Pessina deflected into a corner by Ceccaroni. On the next corner Dany Mota soars higher than everyone and almost scores a double. Monza deservedly ahead at half-time. The hosts try to shake up immediately at the start of the second half with a shot from Ranocchia which goes out wide. Monza was immediately stinging on the counterattack and at 49' Azzi fired a slightly high blow from outside.

The Italian-Brazilian is a thorn in the side of the rosanero defense and at 50' he brushes the cross to the far post where Izzo emerges with the winning header to double the lead. Second consecutive goal for the Neapolitan defender and a huge celebration for the biancorossi. Bianco inserts Colpani at 61’ for a very generous Keita. Palermo tries to reopen the match, but does so with long-range shots that don't worry Thiam, like Palumbo's left-footed shot at 66'. Monza, on the other hand, is always dangerous and comes close to a hat trick in the scrum at 75’: Lucchesi and Ravanelli almost turn the bank of the ubiquitous Izzo into the net. Bianco first inserts Maric and Delli Carri and then at 85’ Carboni and Brorsson for the finale. Palermo pushes forward and takes a big risk at 88', when Azzi has the ball to make it 0-3 on the counterattack: Joronen is still very good at saving. End full of opportunities. At 89’, new entrant Brunori kicked well, narrowly missing the top corner with his right foot. A minute later Colpani arms another counterattack in which the Sicilian defense saves itself at the last minute on the usual Azzi.

The number 7 hasn't finished racing yet and at 95’ he flies on Colpani's throw towards the goal: this time Joronen has to surrender to the final 0-3 of a fantastic Monza. First goal in the championship for Azzi and fourth victory in a row for Bianco's team, which moves within one of leaders Modena. The biancorossi will return to the field on Sunday 2nd November at 5:15 PM at the U-Power Stadium against Spezia.