Lega Serie D – General Discussion

[Messinterista]

These teams cop penalties like this, but unfortunately they can't avoid it.

[Jocksboy]

Messina jump to third after a splendid 4-0 home victory yesterday. They're now on 47, just one point behind second placed Cosenza. Unfortunately Hinterreggio keep on winning too so the gap is still that dastardly seven points.
It's still as you were in Girone C. Venezia and second placed Porto Tolle fought out a 1-1 draw in Venice, while Legnago also drew. So the lead stays at a slender two points and...
there's only FIVE GAMES LEFT TO GO.

[Jocksboy]

Messina are featured in Saturday's live Serie D match on Rai Sport 1. It's a crunch game away to second placed Cosenza, or to give them their correct name mowadays Nuovo Cosenza. Transmision starts at 2 p.m. BST.

[Jocksboy]

It wasn't a happy Easter for either Messina or Venezia.
Messina crashed 4-1 away to second placed Cosenza. It was a double blow as leaders Hinterreggio surprisingly lost. Victory would have left Messina only four points off top spot. As it is they remain seven points behind but Cosenza closed up to within three points of the leaders.
Venezia could only manage a 1-1 draw at home while main rivals Porto Tolle won. The two clubs are now level on points, but Porto Tolle go top on goal difference. Legnago also drew.
FOUR GAMES TO GO!

[Messinterista]

Huge blow. Both mentally and on the table, shame.

[Jocksboy]

Todays live match on Rai Sport 1 is San Nicolo v. Santedigiese. K.O. 1 p.m. - transmission starts at 12.50 BST.

[Jocksboy]

No live game on TV on Saturday. A recorded match will be shown on Rai Sport 2 at 10.20 p.m. BST.

[Jocksboy]

Wins for both Messina and Venezia yesterday. Messina beat third place Battipagliase 2-1 and leapfrog them into third place. Still seven points behind Hinterreggio and four behind Cosenza though.
Venezia won 2-0, a huge result as Porto Tolle lost and Legnago drew. The lead at the top is three points again.
Martina are still hanging in there in Girone H, just two points behind the leaders.
THREE GAMES TO GO!

[Jocksboy]

Rai Sport 1 - 5 p.m. BST today - Live, Delta Porto Tolle v. Legnago. Vital game in Girone C with bearing on Venezia's chances of promotion.

[Jocksboy]

Messina's faint hopes of glory were extinguished yesterday with a 3-2 defeat to Serie D cup finalists Sant'Antonio Abate. they stay in third place.
Venezia's fate is now in their own hands. They won 1-0 yesterday to maintain their 3 point lead at the top. Porto Tolle won a dramatic encounter with third place Legnago - on TV last night. It was 1-1 with ten seconds of injury time left when Legnago gave away a penalty, duly converted.
TWO GAMES TO GO.

[Messinterista]

Getting close to the end. Happy with Messina's performance this season, no matter how they end up on the table. If they keep their squad, they will win their Girone next season.

[Jocksboy]

With two games to go only two of the nine divisional winners are known. I will update this item over the next fortnight.
UPDATE 30.4.12. Four more divisions have been decided, leving three to be settled on the last day of the regular season.
Girone A Valle D'Aosta
Girone B Castiglione
Girone C Venezia
Girone D Forli'
Girone E Pontedera
Girone F Teramo
Girone G Salerno
Girone H Martina Franca
Girone I Hinterreggio

[Jocksboy]

Today's Serie D live match on Rai Sport 1 is Pontedera v. Arezzo at 1.50 p.m. BST. A chance to see the champions of Girone E.

[Jocksboy]

BRAVO VENEZIA! A 5-2 home victory over bottom club ISM Gradisca couple with a defeat for Porto Tolle means the arancioneroverde are undisputed champions of Girone C and back in the Lega Pro after a two year absence.
Messina slumped to a 2-1 defeat and drop to fifth in the table. Hinterreggio won the league, so the seven point penalty was not after all the cause of Messina's failure to win promotion.
It will be interesting to see if Hinterreggio actually go up. According to Wikipedia their ground only holds 2,000. I'm not sure if this meets Lega Pro requirements.

[Messinterista]

Congrats to Venezia.
Another year in the wilderness for Messina...

[Jocksboy]

The second leg of the Serie D Coppa Italia final, Sant'Antonio Abate v. SandonJesola is live this afternoon on Rai Sport 2 at 3 p.m.

[Jocksboy]

Today's live game on Rai Sport 1 is Forli' v. Este. K.O. 2 p.m., programme starts at 1.50 p.m. BST.

[Jocksboy]

Messina closed out the season with a 0-0 draw. They finished fifth in the table.
Venezia went out in style with a 3-0 away victory. Their league winning margin was six points.

[Messinterista]

Thanks for a wonderful season with your constant updates Jocksboy, they have been a welcome addition.

[Jocksboy]

By some minor miracle Messina's penalty has suddenly been reduced from 7 points to 3. That takes them to 56 points and up one place in the final table to fourth. The ways of the Italian football authorities are strange indeed!