PlayOff Final: Brianzoli On The Verge
Serie B PlayOff First Leg: Pisa scores late to stay alive
U-Power Stadium: Monza edged closer to a historical Serie A promotion and holds a 2–1 lead ahead of Sunday’s second leg of the Serie B PlayOff Final to be contested in Pisa.
But it’s not over yet for the Nerazzurri. For match highlights, scroll down.
After eliminating Brescia on Sunday night, Giovanni Stroppa boldly dropped Christian Gytkjær to the bench, opting to start José Machín in midfield and shift Patrick Ciurria up top alongside Dany Mota.
And the move immediately paid off. The Brianza hit the lead courtesy of Mota’s 9th-minute strike. The Portuguese notched up his 12th of the season after ruthlessly finishing off Ciurria’s defence-splitting assist as Monza appeared dangerous on the counterattack.
Luca D’Angelo daringly named Lorenzo Lucca in a three-man attack with George Puscas and Ahmad Benali, the latter scoring the equaliser to knock out Benevento last Saturday.
Spurred on by a record crowd, Monza kept possession high up the pitch in the first half. Pisa’s get-out-of-jail card was to clear the ball to the chest of Lucca — who netted his fourth goal of the regular season in a 2–1 win over the Bagai last September — who hasn’t beaten a goalkeeper since October.
Mind you, he did come close against Cremonese’s Marco Carnesecchi in March.
Despite Pisa’s cautious approach, Marius Marin and George Puscas both came close to restoring parity in the opening 45 minutes. Perhaps the Romanian pair were unnerved by the sea of red in the Curva Davide Pieri.
2 Tempo
The second half began as the first half concluded. With five goals during the stagione, Giuseppe Sibilli was injected into the game with immediate effect, hitting the post from a tight angle.
Lucca steamed into the area but chose to take on Michele Di Gregorio — who made himself big in front of goal — instead of cutting back for Puscas. The former Inter Milan striker is hunting a second goal against Monza since joining from Reading in January.
With Samuele Birindelli’s men advancing, Stroppa needed fresh legs and made a crucial double substitution as Ciurria and Luca Mazzitelli made way for Marco D’Alessandro and Gytkjær — two of the Biancorossi’s semifinal goalscoring heroes.
Coaching decisions that win you matches
Like a heat-seeking missile, D’Alessandro’s cross located Mota’s head. Nicolas Andrade could only push his save into the path of Gytkjær, the Viking forcing the ball home, gifting Paolo Berlusconi’s club a precious two-goal lead with 16 minutes left.
Monza could smell the blood in the water and went in search of a third goal but their two talismans, Gytkjær and Mota, were both denied in the latter stages.
Mai Dire Mai
Pisa was rewarded for perseverance. Mario Sampirisi offered the Nerazzurri a late gift, chesting the ball behind for a corner in the 93rd.
Giuseppe Sibilli produced a moment of quality when his set-piece found an unlikely goal source. Leaping above Salvatore Molina, substitute Filippo Berra headed in his debut goal for Pisa since leaving Pordenone last summer.
Called upon for just the seventh time this season, Berra stirred in the sweetener for those Pisa fans that made the trip from Tuscany, scoring in front of the away stand with seconds remaining to restore hope for a club that hasn’t played top-flight calcio for 32 years.
Either way, it’s history in the making
Are the Diego Simeone days coming back? Is Monza going to finally clinch Serie A promotion for the first time? The second leg kicks off on Sunday night at the Arena Garibaldi, Pisa, 19.30 BST.
ATTENZIONE
PISA: Ciurria has assisted Dany Mota against Pisa already this season, back in September at the Garibaldi.
MONZA: Pisa beat Monza twice in the regular season, and has lost just one Serie B match at home all season. Monza was defeated in 3 of their last 4 regular season away games. Pisa was also 1–0 behind to Benevento after the first leg of the semifinal PlayOff but replied at home in the second leg.
This scintillating Serie B campaign is nearly over. Monza, chaired by Paolo Berlusconi, is now at the top stair of the Serie B staircase. Silvio can smell the sugo simmering, but will he taste it?
Serie B PlayOff Final (two legs)
3rd (Pisa) plays Monza (4th)
The second leg is always at the home stadium of the best-placed team in the regular season (3rd or 4th).
The away goals rule does not apply.
In the event of a drawn aggregate scoreline after 180 minutes (two legs), the team best positioned in the Serie B standings is promoted and no extra time is played.
Pisa and Monza both concluded the Serie B regular season with 67 points, therefore, with a drawn aggregate scoreline extra time is played and then penalties if required.
Reminder: Cagliari, Genoa and Venezia will be back in Serie B in August. Lecce and Cremonese were directly promoted after finishing in 1st and 2nd in 2021/22.
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