After forty days, ACR returns to winning ways, with the former Nardò player scoring his first goal and the former Cosenza player scoring a fourth, as decisive as the previous three. This is a crucial victory, securing them a place in the play-off zone. The Peloritani capitalized on the many absences among the visiting team, who prevailed in the first half. In the second half, the goal that could prove to be the turning point.
The match report: Messina pushed hard from the start and won a corner, which Tedesco capitalized on. The former Nardò striker put his team ahead with a beautiful header after just two minutes. For him and ACR, the goal was a true relief. Acireale’s response came courtesy of a Gagliardi cross, which crossed the box but was missed by his teammates. Coach Morelli’s men lost Samb, fresh from his brace against Igea, to injury; Floridia came on in his place.
After just over ten minutes, the Granata’s response culminated in the equalizer from vice-captain Di Mauro , who cleverly finished off a cross from the left flank. In the 22nd minute, the visitors came close to taking the lead when Hebeck’s header, well-placed by Floridia, sailed just over Giardino’s crossbar. The teams showed no resistance on a pitch that was very heavy due to the constant rain, which made it difficult for the players to maintain their balance. Messina responded in the 33rd minute from a corner. Orlando crossed for Tedesco, who beat his marker, but his shot narrowly missed the target. In the 41st minute, the Granata were able to slice through the home defense and were extremely dangerous on the counterattack: Rechichi ‘s diagonal shot went just wide.
The second half featured the same players, with Saverino trying from outside the box in the 3rd minute, but his shot was too weak and didn’t cause any problems for Negri. Rain seemed to give the players a bit of a break, and in the 15th minute, Parisi strengthened the attack, giving space to Oliviero, who immediately provided excellent opportunities down the flank. On the following move, Saverino’s free kick missed the target. In the 26th minute, Hebeck made a lightning-fast counterattack, racing toward Giardino’s goal and firing weakly, but his position was offside. Acireale continued to attack with Gagliardi’s powerful shot that missed the target.
The match changed after half an hour, with Garufi curling a free kick from 25 meters into the net, deflected by Roseti , who headed it into the right corner of Negri’s net for his fourth goal of the season. Like the previous three, all decisive, it came once again at the “Franco Scoglio.” After the goal, Parisi changed the team’s structure, sending on the returning Touré and Aprile at the same time. In the seven minutes of added time, Acireale’s reaction was very limited against a well-positioned Messina. In the penultimate minute of added time, Oliviero almost scored, but after a long run of over 40 meters, his shot just missed the post. That’s how it ended, Messina returning to victory by focusing on consistency and breaking the mini-crisis.
The scoresheet. Messina-Acireale 2-1
Goalscorers: 2nd first half Tedesco (M); 13th second half Di Mauro (A); 31st second half Roseti (M).
Messina: Giardino, Garufi (K), Trasciani, Clemente, Maisano, Zerbo (14th second half Oliviero), Orlando, Saverino, Matese (33rd second half Aprile), Roseti (41st second half Bosia), Tedesco (33rd second half Tourè). On the bench: Sorrentino, Pedicone, Kaprof, Papallo, Bonofiglio. Coach: Parisi.
Acireale: Negri, S. Di Stefano (14th second half Galletta), Di Mauro, Gagliardi (K), Issa, S. Touré, D. Di Stefano, Rechichi, Samb (8th first half Floridia – 24th second half Di Pietro), Vitale, Hebeck. On the bench: Di Franco, Semenzin, Gallo, Rapisarda, Maimone, Genovese. Coach: Morelli.
Referee: Piciucco from Campobasso. Assistants: Lemos from Nola and Cafisi from Nocera.
Notes – Corners: 4-1. Yellow cards: Gagliardi (A), Di Stefano D. (A). Added time: 2′ 1st half; 7′ 2nd half.
