Rimini secured their first victory after two months of waiting, showcasing resilience against ten-man AScoli during their recent Serie C clash. The match held at Stadio Romeo Neri concluded with Rimini triumphing 2-0, anchoring their playoff ambitions.
The game started with both teams displaying cautious strategies, holding the balance through the first half. Rimini, operating under coach Antonio Buscè, pushed hard but faced tough competition. An early effort from Langella nearly broke the deadlock, but his shot ricocheted off the crossbar, illustrating the hosts' determination.
A significant turning point occurred just before halftime when AScoli's Marsura received his marching orders. The red card, awarded for what the referee deemed as reckless play, left AScoli temporarily shell-shocked, thrusting Rimini advantageously onto the front foot.
After the break, Rimini came out with renewed vigor. Gagliano, ever the threat, struck the crossbar again shortly after the resumption, but it was Parigi who finally cracked the AScoli defense open. At the 58th minute, he skillfully controlled a cross from the right, slotting it past the AScoli goalkeeper Raffaelli and igniting the home crowd's celebrations.
Struggling to respond from their moment of adversity, AScoli faced another hurdle when they conceded a penalty. The foul committed by Cinquegrano led to Cioffi stepping up to take the penalty at the 79th minute. With composure, he converted it, evading Raffaelli’s desperate attempt to save, to put Rimini firmly 2-0 up.
Despite AScoli's fading hopes of mounting any form of comeback, they couldn’t capitalize on the few chances they managed to create. Rimini's backend held strong, effectively managing their lead which the team had not celebrated for some time. Parigi almost added to the scoreline, yet his late header was cleared off the line.
By the match's conclusion, the Rimini squad and their supporters relished the well-fought win, with the scoreboard reflecting their dominance, especially in the second half. This match marks not just a simple win but potentially sets the tone for their fight to solidify their place within playoff contention, as both teams aim for promotion to Serie B.
With this victory, Rimini jumps to 9th place, now boasting 31 points. Meanwhile, AScoli, still struggling to make their presence felt with only 30 points from this match, will need to reassess their strategy going forward as they deal with the aftermath of this disappointing loss.
Rimini's upcoming schedule will be closely watched, as fans eagerly hope this victory ignites the team’s momentum going forward or if AScoli can quickly recover and shift back to positive results. The stage is set for thrilling football as the Serie C season progresses.