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2014 – 15 April Review
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AS Venezia played four games this month, Brescia and Entella at home and Bari and Catania away.
AS VENEZIA 4-0 BRESCIA
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Line Up: AS Venezia: (4-3-3) Kuszczak, Neill, Piccolo, Sørensen, Sini, Bottone, Barillà, Espinosa, Baros, De Silvestro, Anelka
Line Up: Brescia: (3-4-3) Arcari, Paci, Freddi, Giannetti, Zambelli, Olivera, Budel, Abero, Corvia, Seck, Caracciolo
Brescia may have had more shots that AS Venezia, but I Gondolieri proved that being clinical is the way to win games in front of 10,011 people at the Stadio Pierluigi Penzo. Elio De Silvestro scored to give ASV the lead, Neill played a ball over the top toward Anelka, who missed it, but it broke for De Silvestro, who took it on the half volley, and powered it in to a bulging back of the net. The next goal came after Sini won the ball in the air, and headered it to De Silvestro, who took on the defender, and got free. He then played the ball to Anelka, who gave it away, but Bottone won it back and passed it to Javi Espinosa. He played it to Anelka, who turned and laid it off to Barillà, who then played it to an overlapping Baros, who happened to be clean through, and put it in to the back of the net. I Gondolieri went on to get another goal. Sini played it to Espinosa, who played it to Anelka, who saw the run of De Silvestro, and gave it to him, who finished. ASV were three nil up in twenty-four minutes. It took till late in the second half for the fourth to go in, and an injury to Anelka, which will see him miss the season showdown. An Espinosa corner found Alhassen at the back post, who thundered it in.
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Elio De Silvestro (12)
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Milan Baros (20)
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Elio De Silvestro (24)
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Masahudu Alhassen (83)
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De Silvestro
Manager’s View
In my opinion, his was a fantastic game from all viewpoints. We showed we are clinical with our shooting, and that we take chances. We can win, despite not controlling possession, and that to win we don’t need that. They had eight more shots and the same amount on target, and they didn’t score. This shows that our defence and goalkeeper need to stop the shots, but when they do come, they know how to handle them. I am very happy for Elio, as his form has dipped over the last couple of games, but today he showed that he is a great player again.
BARI 0-1 AS VENEZIA
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Line Up: AS Venezia: (4-3-3) Kuszczak, Piccolo, Sørensen, Sini, Bottone, Barillà, Kafes, Sinclair, De Silvestro, Toniolo
Line Up: BariL (3-5-2) Guarna, Masi, Gasparetto, Perticone, Insigne, Sciaudone, Deivecchio, Romizi, Maskimovic, João Silva, Marotta
6,000 people witnessed AS Venezia beat Bari at the San Nicola, and a dream debut for a sixteen year old. It was Toniolo, who was starting his first game for the club. It only took him a grand eight minutes to leave his mark. De Silvestro played it out to Sinclair, who played it to Seitaridis, who played it back. Maksimovic, though, intercepted the ball, and cleared, only for it to fall to Bottone. He played it to Sini, who then gave it to De Silvestro, who beat the defender and cut inside, and laid it off to Toniolo, who met it on the volley. Bari went on to dominate, having the majority of the possession and more shots, but they couldn’t find the back of the net, meaning that ASV got the three points
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Agostino Toniolo
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Sørensen
Manager’s View
I am very happy for Agostino. I was worried about starting him, but he was the only option we had. Anelka and Baros are injured and Iaquinta was nowhere near full fitness to start. But my faith in him paid off. I said to him before the game: “I know you are young, but just imagine you are playing with you mates, go and show them what you can do, that is the amount of pressure I am putting on you tonight, the amount you would have if you were playing down the local field with your mates.” His goal was a good goal as well; he showed real technical ability to hit a fast moving pass on the volley. He will be a star, definitely.
AS VENEZIA 2-0 VIRTUS ENTELLA
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Line Up: AS Venezia: (4-1-1-3-1) Kuszczak, Neill, Terlizzi, Sørensen, Alhassen, Mio, Espinosa, Sinclair, Valenta, Barillà, Iaquinta
Line Up: Virtus Entella: (4-3-1-2) Paroni, Russo, Somma, Pastore, Botta, Gagliardini, Staiti, Sarno, Jogan, Argeri
Another youth graduate made his debut at the Stadio Pierluigi Penzo in front of 9,959 people. He impressed on his debut, but didn’t have the same impact as Toniolo. The first goal came just after half time, with De Silvestro getting on the scoresheet. It came straight from the kick off, with Sinclair receiving the ball, and playing it to Neill, who gave it to Espinosa, who magnificently passed it Iaquinta and played it to Neill. A sliding tackle came in and it then went out for a throw. Neill took it and gave the ball to Espinosa, who gave it to Iaquinta out wide, who pulled it back in to the box, where De Silvestro met it, and hit the back of the net. Valenta got the second goal, on his return from a serious injury. Alhassen received the ball and ran down the flank, and then gave it to De Silvestro, who pulled it back to Valenta, who put it underneath the keeper, who could not get down quick enough to get to the ball. Barillà went off in the first half after spraining his ankle, and will miss three to four weeks.
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Elio De Silvestro (46)
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Jiri Valenta (51)
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De Silvestro
Manager’s View
Once again, a good victory. This time though, we dominated. We had eighteen shots, compared to their four. We had sixty-one percent of the possession. Jiri played well, considering he just came back from a serious injury that kept him out for a very long time. The only regret is the foul count, but it is not as bad as it has been.
CATANIA 1-1 AS VENEZIA
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Line Up: AS Venezia: (4-1-1-3-1) Kuszczak, Neill, Terlizzi, Sørensen, Sini, Bottone, Espinosa, De Silvestro, Valenta, Seijas, Baros
Line Up: Catania: (4-4-2) Kosicky, Alvarez, Legrottaglie, Rolín, Monzón, Peruzzi, Llodi, Izco, Rosina, Bergessio, Calaiò
The match that saw first play second did not disappoint, despite finishing one one at the Angelo Massimino – Cibali in front of a whopping 14,000 people. Catania, understandably, dominated the game and scored first. Rosina put in a cross, which was dealt with my ASV, who had the chance to break, only for them to lose the ball. Lodi plucked it out of the air and gave it to Bergessio, who played it to Calaiò. He then ran at the defence and played it to Izco. He gave it Rosina, who beat Neill with pace, and got a good cross in. Bergessio peeled off the back of Sørensen, and met it on the volley and blasted it in to the back of the net. I Gondolieri went in one nil down at half time, and had lost top spot. But, in the second half, they managed to create more chances. A Kuszczak goal kick found Catania’s Monzón, who headed towards Calaiò, but Neill managed to intercept and head it to Valenta, who gave it immediately to Bottone. He gave it to Espinosa, who played a magnificent long pass to De Silvestro, who got free of Monzón. He then turned and played a lobbed ball to Seijas, who had escaped the attention of Alvarez and got round the back of him, controlled it on his chest, went round the keeper and put it into the back of the net to equal the scoreline. Catania then carried on to dominate and create more chances, but couldn’t make them count.
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Gonzalo Bergessio (36)
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Luis Seijas (51)
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Rosina
Manager’s View
A good result as it means that we are still clear at the top. A win would have been so much nicer, though, as it would have put us six points clear, but I knew that would be hard. I am very pleased with the way we defended, as Catania have the strongest attack in the league. Luis also showed that he is a very important component in the team, and why we have missed him during his ban. But, the title is in reach now, and hopefully we can grab it soon.
OVERVIEW
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LEAGUE TABLE
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AS Venezia sit 1st, 3 points ahead of Catania. They have won 27 games, drawn 7 and lost just 2. They have scored 62 goals and conceded 21, leaving them with a goal difference of +41. They also broke the record of the most points ever collected in one season in the league, breaking the previous record of 85.
AWARDS
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Goal of the Month: LUCA SILGARDI – LIVORNO (VS PRO VERCELLI, 26TH APRIL)
A truly memorable goal from Livorno left winger Siligardi as he hit a free kick from 25 meters.
Team of the Month: Zappino (Frosinone), Peruzzi (Catania), Gemiti (Livorno),
Sørensen (AS Venezia), Legrottaglie (Catania), Lodi (Catania), Kone (Bologna), Izco (Catania), Bergessio (Catania), Bianchi (Bologna), Sforzini (Pescara)
NEXT MONTH: MAY
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I Gondolieri will play six games in the final month of the season, Pescara, Spezia, Livorno and Carpi at home and Bologna and Perugia away in the race for the title.
Elio De Silvestro (12)
De Silvestro
