ASCOLI CALCIO faced a disappointing defeat against Ternana, with the final score reading 3-0. The match, held on February 23, 2025, at the Del Duca stadium, marked yet another struggle for AScoli, coming just off the back of a victory against Pescara.
The game started poorly for the bianconeri as Ternana capitalized on defensive errors. Gianluca Carpani of AScoli expressed disappointment after the match, stating, "We apologize because losing 3-0 at home isn't acceptable, even against the strongest team in the league." Carpani emphasized the need for the team to paddle with all their might, as they looked to address the inconsistency seen throughout their season.
The first noteworthy moment came as Ternana struck early, with midfielder Corradini pouncing on a misplay by AScoli's goalkeeper Raffaelli at the 12-minute mark. This was his second goal of the season. Just four minutes later, Ternana doubled its lead with Cianci scoring from head, marking his eleventh goal of the campaign.
AScoli attempted to respond but struggled to find any rhythm. Varone had a significant opportunity but couldn't convert, leading to frustration among the home supporters. The first half finished with Ternana firmly in control, but the worst was still to come for AScoli by the end of the first period.
Right before half-time, Ternana's Curcio netted their third goal thanks to another clever set-up from the skilled Cicerelli, sealing AScoli's fate before they even had the chance to regroup at half-time. Carpani later remarked, "One thing I find irritating is the third goal conceded just seconds before the break. It would have been important to go to the dressing room at 0-2; we could have had some time to recover the score."
After the half-time interval, AScoli's coach Mirko Cudini made adjustments — substituting players Silipo and Odjer for Gagliardi and Tremolada. Despite their attempts to push for goals, including several shots from Varone and Adjapong, none could shift the momentum back toward the hosts.
Ternana, under the guidance of coach Ignazio Abate, managed the remainder of the match efficiently. Abate later stated, "We played exceptionally well, especially the first half without taking any risks," acknowledging their strong collective performance. His team shut out AScoli's attempts to compete, which insightfully enforced their mental discipline and tactical execution throughout.
The fans' discontent grew steadily as the game progressed, leading to chants of frustration toward club president Pulcinelli from AScoli’s supporters. They have now witnessed their team suffer eleven defeats this season — four of which have come during the second half of the league fixtures.
Now, as AScoli prepares for their next encounter against Vis Pesaro, reflections on this humbling loss against Ternana will undoubtedly resonate as they seek to recover their earlier momentum. With Carpani's insistence on working on details and consistency, it remains to be seen how they can pivot back to winning ways.
Ternana, having fully demonstrated their capabilities and sending out signals to their opponents for the championship, looks forward to their future fixtures with renewed confidence. They have moved closer to the top positions with this commanding win, hoping to build on their success moving forward.
Overall, Ternana’s decisive victory at the Del Duca marks not only another tough day for AScoli and their fans but also serves as impressive validation of Abate's squad's potential as they eye contention for top honors this season.