Fourth draw in a row for Palermo, but this time the final result really left a bad taste in the mouth: in Pisa the rosanero played an almost perfect match but were grabbed by the nerazzurri with a shot from distance by Sibilli four minutes from the end. The rosanero had taken the lead with Di Mariano, who took advantage of an extraordinary through ball from Verre. A few moments earlier Brunori had missed a penalty kick. Many opportunities created in the first half, at least two, three clear. In the second half Palermo builds again, restarting quickly: Corini’s team, however, can’t find the double and with the passing of the minutes it drops slightly. Pisa raises the center of gravity and in the final, with an individual flash, grabs the draw.
Di Mariano: “Here’s who I dedicate the goal to…”
Finally Di Mariano
Eugenio Corini changes several interpreters compared to Tuesday evening’s match against Ternana: Verre returns to midfield, with Saric and Damiani in the control room; Di Mariano plays for Valente in the right lane, on the left it is Aurelio who wins the ballot with Masciangelo; forward is Soleri, and not Tutino, with Brunori. The rosanero start the match well, with several tracks built on the flanks where Aurelio and Di Mariano try to push hard. Damiani is often shielded by Moreo but the ball around the rosanero is still effective. Gliozzi and Torregrossa work to ensure depth for the nerazzurri, the rosanero defensive line punctually closes the gaps created by the work of the strikers. Palermo play with personality, without distorting their tactical creed in the presence of a high quality opponent. The rosanero in the non-possession phase appear very compact, the nerazzurri are forced to force the play due to the closed spaces. Brunori immediately goes in marking Marin, forcing Pisa to alternative solutions to gain meters. Valerio Verre gives security to his companions, always proposing to help Aurelio. Saric is precious with effective breaks and breaks, quick plays and good ideas in the middle of the field.
After half an hour Di Mariano starts on the counterattack and forces Esteves to tackle in the area: it’s a penalty. Captain Matteo Brunori starts from the penalty spot and lets himself be hypnotized by Nicolas, a sensational missed opportunity for Palermo. Fourth mistake, out of eight penalties kicked, for the rosanero number nine: central and weak conclusion, bad execution. Fifth penalty missed, out of nine kicked, by Palermo this season. Maybe it would be time to change?
In the 38th minute, however, the rosanero took the lead: Verre served an amazing through ball to Di Mariano who stabbed Nicolas with a very soft spoon. Second center in the season, after the goal in the first leg again against Pisa, for the ten rosanero, who are celebrating the birth of their daughter Isabel which took place three days ago. In the 40th minute Di Mariano still has the chance to double: assist from Soleri and the number ten, with the goal practically unguarded, kicks wide. A minute later Saric, after the left-footed shot of the first ten minutes, kicked around with his right foot on the far post, Nicolas still in the corner. In the 44th minute Moreo kicked very well towards Pigliacelli’s goal, the ball just wide. The first half goes on file with a 0-1 partial, which is close to the rosanero: Palermo’s masterful first half, tactically perfect.
The variations of the recovery
At the beginning of recovery in Pisa inside Hermansson and Nagy, instead of Mastinu and Caracciolo. In the 53rd minute Morutan also enters in place of Torregrossa. Corini replies with Bettella instead of Marconi, who has perceived a physical problem. Pisa tries to build but lacks a bit of quality, the rosanero remain compact and restart quickly with a break on the flanks. Aurelio runs and proposes, good race for the former Pontedera. The Verre-Di Mariano axis puts the struggling Nerazzurri defense under pressure. In the 62nd minute Sibilli relieves Tourè, D’Angelo tries to revitalize the offensive manoeuvre. Corini opts for a triple substitution and sends Brunori out for Tutino, Damiani and Di Mariano also out for Broh and Valente. In the 68th minute Tutino scores from an assist from Valente but the game is stopped because an offside position is signaled from the beginning of the rosanero counterattack, born from a good through ball that had punched the Pisan defence. Soleri does a great dirty job, getting his teammates up and taking several very precious fouls. Moreo also comes out of the field, inside Masucci. The Nerazzurri raise their center of gravity a lot, trying to take the field. Corini sends Segre in, Saric leaves the field: good performance for the ex Ascoli midfielder.
In the 86th minute, Pisa suddenly equalized: left-handed missile from Sibilli and a shot that pierced Pigliacelli. Blaze from the Pisan footballer, thirteenth goal for the Nerazzurri in the last quarter of an hour of play. Nothing happens in the final minutes, the match ends in a draw.
Scoreboard and report cards
PISA (4-3-1-2): Nicholas 6.5; Esteves 6, Caracciolo 5.5 (46′ Hermansson 6), Barba 5, Beruatto 6; Tourè 5.5 (62′ Sibilli 7), Marin 6, Mastinu 5 (46′ Nagy 6); Moreo 5.5 (72′ Masucci 6); Gliozzi 6, Torregrossa 5.5 (53′ Morutan 6). Coach: D’Angelo 6.5.
PALERMO (3-5-2): Pigliacelli 6; Mateju 6.5, Nedelcearu 6, Marconi 6 (54′ Bettella 6); Di Mariano 7 (65′ Valente 6), Saric 6.5 (76′ Segre 5.5), Damiani 6 (65′ Broh 5.5), Verre 7.5, Aurelio 6.5; Brunori 5 (65′ Tutino 6), Soleri 7. Coach: Corini 6.5.
Referee: Pezzuto (Lecce) 6.5.
Ammonite yourself: 9′ Mastinu (P), 14′ Caracciolo (P), 30′ Esteves (P), 44′ Soleri (Pa), 90′ Verre (Pa),
Rarely: 38′ Di Mariano, 86′ Sibilli.
