Serie C 23/24: Arzignano Valchiampo 1-2 Triestina

Triestina was on the hunt for their fourth consecutive victory to continue their push for third place, while Arzignano was looking for vital points in their quest for salvation, buoyed by a solid 3-0 win against Renate under new coach Bentivoglio.

Bordin rotated a few players from the match against Alessandria. Correia returned to the midfield, Germano and Anzolin took the flanks, and D'Urso started alongside the confirmed Lescano and El Azrak, forming an attack with two attacking midfielders supporting the Argentine attacker. Bentivoglio stuck with the 4-2-3-1 formation that worked well in Meda, with Bordo and Casini in midfield and Parigi supported by Lakti, Mattioli, and Faggioli in attack.

Triestina started with confidence, taking a shot through Vallocchia after a beautiful team move in the 5th minute, but the ball flew over the bar. In the 8th minute, Triestina claimed a penalty with good reason. Anzolin's great cross from the left found Lescano ready to score in the six-yard box, but he was clearly held and brought down by Piana. The referee, Bozzetto, waved play on amidst futile protests from Triestina.

In the 11th minute, Lescano was again in the thick of the action in Arzignano’s box, heading wide from a soft cross by Vallocchia from the right. Against the run of play, the hosts took the lead with their first offensive move. Mattioli performed a great trick 30 meters out and unleashed a powerful low shot from just outside the box, hitting the inside of the post and in. Arzignano gained confidence, forcing Matosevic into two quick saves in the 15th minute, first from Mattioli and then from Lakti's diagonal shot.

Arzignano retreated into their box for several minutes, and Triestina came close to equalizing in the 29th minute. D'Urso curled a dangerous left-footed shot from the right edge of the box, but Lescano just missed it, and the ball went inches wide of the post. The pressure from Triestina continued, and they equalized deservedly in the 37th minute when Lescano tapped in a perfect low assist from El Azrak from the left.

In the 43rd minute, Anzolin had a golden chance, shooting from close range after a deflected shot from Lescano, but Boseggia made a miraculous save. This was the last action of a first half largely dominated by Triestina. They wobbled for five minutes around the goal they conceded but rightfully equalized, with a legitimate penalty claim early on and several created chances.

Triestina started the second half strongly. El Azrak made a central run and shot from the edge of the box in the 53rd minute, but the ball flew over the bar. In the 58th minute, a beautiful move started with El Azrak switching play and ended with Germano's precise cross from the right, but D'Urso's header lacked power and was easily saved by Boseggia. Triestina continued to press, with El Azrak's determined play leading to a chance for Lescano, whose left-footed shot was saved by Boseggia in the 61st minute.

Triestina's clear superiority was finally rewarded in the 71st minute when Gündüz scored a stunning left-footed shot into the top corner, meeting a pass from Correia to give Triestina the lead. The hosts tried to push forward, but Triestina controlled the game without major issues, except for a long-range shot from Davi following a corner in the 89th minute, which went just wide.

In the second of five minutes of stoppage time, Lunghi's run in the box caused a scare for Triestina's defense, with his diagonal shot going about a meter wide. The hosts' final push resulted in a series of corners, but Triestina defended well and secured their fourth consecutive win, a victory as important as it was deserved based on their overall performance.

Arzignano Valchiampo 1-2 Triestina

Scorers: 12' Mattioli, 37' Lescano, 71' Gündüz

Arzignano Valchiampo (4-2-3-1): Boseggia; Cariolato, Piana, Boffelli, Bernardi (76' Davi); Bordo, Casini (56' Antoniazzi); Lakti (76' El Hilali), Mattioli (68' Menabò), Faggioli (56' Lunghi); Parigi.
Substitutes: Pigozzo, Botti, Gemignani, Zanon, Centis, Baretta, Milillo.
Manager: Simone Bentivoglio

Triestina (3-4-2-1): Matosevic; Moretti, Malomo, Rizzo; Germano (74' Pavlev), Correia, Vallocchia (74' Jonsson), Anzolin; El Azrak (84' Celeghin), D'Urso (66' Gündüz); Lescano (84' Redan).
Substitutes: Diakite, Agostino, Ciofani, Minesso, Fofana, Petrasso, Crosara.
Manager: Roberto Bordin