ASCOLI – The Italian football club ASCOLI continues its impressive streak by conquering their fourth consecutive victory, this time against Legnago, with a tight score of 1-0. The only goal of the match came from Varone, filling the role of captain for the day, as his decisive touch helped secure another three points for the team, propelling them firmly within playoff contention.
ASCOLI's coach, Domenico Di Carlo, was pleased with his players' performance, stating the importance of the win, especially considering the formidable atmosphere at Legnago's home ground. "We have won an important match on a difficult field against a team which does not deserve to be at the bottom of the league table. We prepared the match to limit quality players from Legnago, and it wasn’t easy mentally since we came off three consecutive wins. It's clear we are growing stronger in terms of confidence, yet there is still room for improvement,” said Di Carlo after the game.
The match took place on December 14, 2024, at the 'Sandrini' stadium, marking the first meeting between the two teams there. Legnago was hoping to capitalize on their previous victory against Pescara, yet ASCOLI came out strong, establishing their presence on the pitch early. They lined up with their signature 4-2-3-1 formation, featuring Livieri as the goalkeeper and Varone commanding the midfield.
The game started with Legnago showing promise by almost scoring through Martic at the 6th minute, whose free kick narrowly missed the goalpost. ASCOLI quickly responded, attempting to take control of the game. The first real chance for the visitors came at the 14th minute when Tremolada's cross led to a significant defensive move from Legnago’s goalkeeper, Perucchini, who intervened to deny Corazza's attempt.
Despite Legnago's efforts, it was ASCOLI who broke the deadlock just minutes later. At the 25th minute, following Tremolada’s powerful shot, Varone managed to deflect the ball past Perucchini, marking his third goal of the season. This goal shifted the momentum firmly in favor of ASCOLI.
After halftime, Legnago pushed hard to equalize. They created several opportunities, including attempts from Diaby and Basso Ricci, yet they fell short of finding the back of the net. The tactical situation led to multiple substitutions from ASCOLI as they sought to fortify their lead.
ASCOLI's defensive solidity was key to their success, and it showed as they effectively stifled Legnago’s advances, ensuring Livieri had very little to do apart from general goalkeeping duties. The match approached its conclusion with ASCOLI committed to maintaining their lead without panic, effectively managing the game until the final whistle.
Di Carlo reflected on the performance, praising not just the veterans but also the younger players, like Piermarini, who debuted under his management. “It’s great to see our youngsters stepping up; they did wonderfully today,” he noted, emphasizing the balanced approach of combining experience with youthful energy.
With this victory, ASCOLI caps off the first half of the season with 24 points, setting them up well for their upcoming match against Spal at the Del Duca stadium on December 20th. Di Carlo expressed his intent for his team to take it one game at a time, insisting, “We focus on one challenge at a time. Today, we took three points, and now we need to prepare well for the next game.”
ASCOLI's performance reinforces their ambitions as the team eyes another shot at the playoffs, building momentum through hard work, team spirit, and tactical discipline. The victory not only boosts their standings but also highlights the collective effort of the squad, showcasing their resilience and ambition moving forward.
