2014 - 15 December Review
AS Venezia played Bologna, in a second place clash, Spezia, Perugia, which was being broadcasted live across the globe, Livorno and Carpi.
AS VENEZIA 4-0 BOLOGNA
Line Up: AS Venezia: (4-4-2) Kuszczak, Neill, Terlizzi, Sørensen, Biraghi, Bottone, Barillà, De Silvestro, Seijas, Iaquinta, Anelka
Line Up: Bologna: (4-3-1-2) Venturi, Garics, Antonsson, Natali, Cech, Pazienza, Pulzetti, Ibson, Kone, Bianchi, Acquafresca
AS Venezia ran away with a great victory against rivals Bologna in the fight for second place in front of 10,345 fans at Venezia’s Stadio Pierluigi Penzo. Frederik Sørensen gave I Gondolieri the lead after just two minutes. A Seijas corner met the head of Sørensen, who jumped high above the goalkeeper and netted. Star striker and captain Iaquinta then went off injured after twelve minutes, and tore his hamstring, and will be out for seven weeks to two months. Nicolas Anelka then scored after twenty minutes after a Garics clearance found De Silvestro, who was in lots of space, played a through ball to Anelka, who finished it confidently. Centre Back Terlizzi made it three after a De Silvestro freekick was whipped in towards the back post, where Terlizzi was in plenty of space, who finished and then Neill made it four quickly afterwards, as Seijas found Barillà, who found Neill, who was in plenty of space, who scored, to net his first goal for the club.
Frederik Sørensen (2) Nicolas Anelka (20) Christian Terlizzi (35) Lucas Neill (38)
NeillSPEZIA 0-1 AS VENEZIA
Line Up: AS Venezia: (4-1-1-3-1) Kuszczak, Neill, Piccolo, Sørensen, Sini, Bottone, Kafes, De Silvestro, Valenta, Seijas, Anelka
Line Up: Spezia: (4-4-2) Valentini, Zampano, Ceccarelli, Lisuzzo, Ampuero, Schiattarella, Sammarco, Lollo, Chanturia, Ebagua, Orsic
3,527 people witnessed Venezia grab a late victory at the Alberto Picco. Not much happened in the first half, apart from each team picking up a few yellow cards. Until, the last ten minutes, the game was just like the first half, but after a Valentiti goal kick found the head of Bottone, Venezia had the chance to attack. Bottone’s header found Seijas, who immediately found the other team, and they attacked. The ball was quickly won back, with Kafes giving the ball to Valenta, while jumping an incoming slide tackle. Valenta turned and passed to Anelka, who was in plenty of space, who gave it back to Valenta, who took one touch and then passed it to Seijas, who passed it back to Kafes, who found Anelka, who played a lovely through ball to a running Seijas, who got tackled, but the ball broke to De Silvestro, who then played through Seijas, who put it into the bottom corner.
Luis Seijas (81) LisuzzoAS VENEZIA 2-0 PERUGIA
Line Up: AS Venezia: (4-1-1-3-1) Kuszczak, Neill, Piccolo, Sørensen, Biraghi, Bottone, Seijas, De Silvestro, Adorján, Barillà, Anelka
Line Up: Peurgia: (4-2-3-1) Koprivec, Meola, Prestia, Goldaniga, Celcer, Verre, Filipe Gomes, Vitofrancesco, Mazzeo, Fabinho, Misuraca
I Gondolieri won 2-0 on live TV at the Stadio Pierluigi Penzo in front of 10,046 people. The first half was very competitive, with both teams picking up numerous yellow cards in the first half an hour. Fabinho was taken off after thirty-three minutes. But it took till after half time for anyone to get any really good chances, when Seijas played the ball to Anelka after a corner, who crossed it towards the head of Piccolo, who heading the ball into the back of the net. The next goal came two minutes later, after a Neill throw in on the right hand side of the pitch found De Silvestro, who ran right to the by-line, and crossed it in towards the near post, where Seijas was waiting to header it in. Neill then got sent off for two yellow cards.
Felice Piccolo (52) Luis Seijas (54)
Neill (70) SeijasLIVORNO 0-1 AS VENEZIA
Line Up: AS Venezia: (4-3-3) Kuszczak, Seitaridis, Terlizzi, Sørensen, Biraghi, Bottone, Valenta, Kafes, Madej, Seijas, Anelka
Line Up: Livorno: (4-3-3) Mazzoni, Del Prete, Valentiti, Ludi, Gemiti, Luci, Belingheri, Moretti, Paulinho, Siligardi, Dionisi
7,142 people witnessed Seitaridis’ man of the match performance on his return from a serious injury and a bizarre own goal at the Armando Picchi on Boxing Day. Venezia left back Biraghi was taken off injured after twenty-four minutes, after spraining his ankle, and is expected to be out for four to five weeks. Livorno dominated the game, and possession for most of it, until substitute Alhassen won the ball back in his own half. Then he ran down the touchline and played it to a lurking Baros, but Ludi, who had played well, tried to get in a tackle, it came off his leg, and into the bottom corner of the net, giving AS Venezia the three points.
Carlalberto Ludi Own Goal (72) SeitaridisCARPI 1-4 AS VENEZIA
Line Up: AS Venezia: (4-3-3) Kuszczak, Neill, Piccolo, Sørensen, Sini, Bottone, Barillà, Valenta, De Silvestro, Seijas, Anelka
Line Up: Carpi: (4-4-2) Pellegrinelli, Letizia, Romagnoli, Poli, Sperotto, Concas, Pasciuti, Bessa, Di Guadio, Sarao, Varano
Anelka scored a hattrick at the Sandro Cabassi in front of 1,664 people in a cold, final game of the month. It looked like it would be Anelka’s day after he netted after just three minutes. After Barillà won the ball in his own penalty area, he played a long ball straight to Anelka, who immediately passed to De Silvestro, who played a smart lobbed ball to Anelka, who knocked it on to a running on Seijas, who easily beat the right back, and crossed it in, which hit the inside of the far post, which rebounded into Anelka’s path, who finished coolly. The next goal came after impressive build up play resulted in a De Silvestro cross, which came of the leg off Romagnoli, who was helpless after Poli’s attended clearance hit him and then rebounded onto Poli, who got the final touch before the ball looped in. A penalty was then given, after Piccolo was fouled in the box, trying to get on the end of a Seijas free kick. Anelka stepped up and put it in the bottom left corner. The next goal went Carpi’s way, after some nice passing resulted in Bessa having a shot, which Kuszczak saved, but he was helpless when Bessa crossed back in and found Varano, who finished it. Anelka got his hattrick after Piccolo won the ball and headed it to Seijas, who then played a one-two with Anelka to avoid an incoming tackle. Seijas then ran past two players, and crossed it to Anelka, who was on the edge of the six-yard box, and headered it in.
Nicolas Anelka (3) Fabrizio Poil Own Goal (54) Nicolas Anelka (pen 70) Federico Varano (80) Nicolas Anelka (82) AnelkaOVERVIEW
LEAGUE TABLE
AS Venezia sit a very pleasing second, two points off the top. They have won 15 games, drawn 5, and lost just 1, scoring 38 goals and conceding just 15, having a goal difference of +23, and a handsome 50 points.
NEXT MONTHS: JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
I Gondolieri will play Siena in January after the winter break, and Frosinone at home, Lanciano away, Cittadella at home and Crotone away.
Benventuo Jake Sinclair
