Sestri Levante triumphed over Pescara with a clear 3-1 victory today in their Serie C match, held at the Ferruccio Chittolina Stadium. With a determination to reclaim the third position in the league, Sestri Levante put forth a commendable performance fueled by the enthusiasm of their home crowd, where 167 Pescara fans were also present to support their team.
Kick-off was at 15:00 CET, with pre-game coverage on Rete8 starting at 14:00. The away team had to navigate the match without their regular defender, Pellacani, who was sidelined due to a suspension. Cangiano began on the bench, not fully recovered from injury, leading to Meazzi stepping up to fill the gap in the attacking trident alongside Ferraris and Alberti.
The match got off to an electrifying start, with Sestri Levante taking the lead early. Nahuel Valentini scored in the 18th minute, a superb situational goal derived from a free kick situation that caught Pescara's defense off guard. However, Pescara responded quickly; Lorenzo Meazzi equalized in the 20th minute, showing resilience as he netted an impeccable goal to bring the score to 1-1.
From there, the contest saw end-to-end action, with both sides creating chances. Sestri Levante capitalized on a defensive miscue to regain the lead with a goal from Lorenzo Podda just before halftime. The first half concluded with the home team ahead, 2-1.
As the teams returned for the second half, the decisive moment came shortly after the restart in the 50th minute. A pivotal foul led to a penalty kick awarded to Sestri Levante. Luca Clemenza stepped up coolly and converted from the spot, extending the home side's advantage to 3-1.
Despite Pescara's attempts to rally back through tactical substitutions, they couldn't break through Sestri Levante's resolute defense. The game wore on, and the visitors struggled to create significant threats that could lead to another goal.
Alberto Ruvo, Sestri Levante's manager, expressed satisfaction with his team's performance in the post-match interview, emphasizing how critical the win was for their standings. “This was an important win for us, especially as we aim to climb the table. The players showed great determination and teamwork today,” he remarked.
On the other hand, Pescara's coach Silvio Baldini, while disappointed, acknowledged the effort put forth by his players. “We need to regroup and focus on our next match. Today, we came up short, but I have confidence in this squad,” he said from the sidelines.
The match was closely officiated by Fabrizio Ramondino, assisted by Giuseppe Lipari and Alessandro Marchese. The action saw an attendance filled with passionate fans, a reminder of the community spirit that thrives in these lower-league matches.
With this victory, Sestri Levante moves up the ranks, eyeing a chance to secure a playoff spot, while Pescara faces a crucial upcoming match to rebound and stay in contention. Both teams have shown resilience, and the season is still far from decided.
As fans look forward to the next round, the league table reflects a tightly contested season, with plenty of suspense about who will claim the coveted playoff places.
