The highly anticipated umbro derby between Ternana and Perugia on March 23, 2025, ended in a goalless draw at the Liberati Stadium. Despite the lack of goals, the match was intense with numerous opportunities from both sides and an electric atmosphere from the supporters.
As the match kicked off at 15:00 local time, Ternana quickly established dominance in the first half, controlling the match as the visitors from Perugia played defensively. The game took a turn early when Perugia's Noah Lewis was injured following a strong challenge, forcing him to leave the field in the 15th minute, and Riccardi was brought on to replace him.
In a gameplay that kept both teams and their fans on edge, Ternana's De Boer came close to scoring with a powerful shot from 25 meters that struck the crossbar in the 35th minute. The home side mostly pressed, creating opportunities, but their efforts were met by a well-organized Perugia defense.
However, as the first half drew to a close, Perugia managed to build a rare counterattack. Though it ended with Montevago's header grazing the post, it showcased their potential to capitalize on Ternana's pushes and hinted at the evenly matched nature of the encounter.
The second half saw Perugia begin to improve their play, establishing a slightly better rhythm. Despite this, Ternana's motivation surged, particularly given reports from their promotion rivals Entella, who were leading in a parallel match. The urgency of a win was palpable.
Just before Ferrante came on for Curcio in the 74th minute, Ternana struck the woodwork yet again when a header from Ferrante was deflected off the bar in the 79th minute, forcing Perugia goalkeeper Gemello to make multiple critical saves, most notably a stunning deflection in the match's dying moments, denying Ferrante one last chance to seal a victory.
The statistics underscored Ternana's advantage in attempts, with a total of three shots hitting the woodwork over the match, illustrating both their attacking prowess and overall frustration in front of goal.
The final whistle blew, concluding the derby in a stalemate. With 10,973 spectators in attendance, the gate receipts amounted to €99,167. The match left Ternana four points behind league leaders, reflecting the competitive atmosphere of the league as teams strive for both promotion and playoff spots.
While both sides left the pitch with a point apiece, the sense of missed opportunities loomed large, especially for Ternana who had, on paper, performed far better than their rivals. Nonetheless, both coaches can take pride in their teams' efforts, with Cangelosi's Perugia successfully executing a solid defensive game plan against the more attacking Ternana side.
