Serie C 2024/25: Triestina 1-1 Pro Vercelli
Geppino Marino's first home match after last Sunday's draw against Trento coincided with a critical clash against Pro Vercelli, fresh off a comeback win over Lecco. Alongside the difficult league position, Triestina faced a long list of absentees, with Struna and Voca joining the unavailable players in the last two days. Marino stuck with the 3-5-2 formation from Trento, while Pro Vercelli lined up in a 3-4-2-1.
The first scare for Triestina came early, as a fortunate deflection favored Vigiani on Pro Vercelli’s right flank. He sent a low ball across the box, but Germano cleared the danger. Triestina quickly gained a foothold in the game and pushed forward, winning three corners in quick succession and putting the visitors on the defensive. Vertainen did well in a crowded area in the 15th minute, swivelled, and fired a low shot, but Rizzo smothered it. Soon after, Vallocchia tried his luck with a left-footed shot from a tight angle after being set up by El Azrak, but Rizzo parried it away with a diving save. In the 32nd minute, Triestina came close to scoring from a set-piece, freeing Germano at the edge of the box. His well-placed lob forced Rizzo into an excellent save, tipping it over for a corner. Four minutes later, Correia exchanged a lovely one-two with Bijleveld in the box and went down under a challenge from a defender, but instead of a penalty, the referee booked the Triestina midfielder, much to the team’s protests.
Pro Vercelli's first real chance came in the 39th minute from an Iotti free-kick. The shot was deflected by the wall, and Marchetti headed the looping ball over the advancing Roos, but Bijleveld cleared it off the line with a header. At the start of two minutes of stoppage time, Triestina nearly took the lead with a thunderous free-kick from El Azrak, deflected by the wall. Rizzo was rooted to the spot, but the ball brushed the post and went out. It’s the final action of a first half in which Triestina increasingly pressed to break the deadlock, appealing for a penalty and narrowly missing the lead on several occasions. Nevertheless, the two sides headed into the break tied at 0-0.
At the start of the second half, Vertainen immediately fired a shot from the edge of the box, missing the target by about a meter. On the counter-attack, Pro Vercelli created a huge chance through a fortunate deflection in Triestina’s area. Rutigliano had a clear sight of goal, but Roos made a chest save to deny him. Vertainen, struggling physically, was substituted, with Attys coming on as a makeshift center-forward, naturally reducing Triestina’s offensive weight. However, the home side withstood Pro Vercelli's territorial dominance without too much trouble until midway through the half, when the visitors took the lead. On a corner delivered by Iotti, Comi rose highest to head the ball into the net. Triestina responded immediately, and just three minutes later, they deservedly equalized. Correia played a brilliant through ball to Bijleveld, who spun and sent a beautiful left-footed shot across a helpless ‘keeper.
Pro Vercelli failed to create any further clear opportunities to regain the lead, while Triestina pushed forward, sending several dangerous balls into the box, but the visitors’ defense held firm. The last quarter of the match produced no significant chances, as the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Triestina 1-1 Pro Vercelli
Marcatori: 67' Comi, 70' Bijleveld
Triestina (3-5-2): Roos; Germano, Moretti, Rizzo; Pavlev (87' Frare), Braima, Correia, Vallocchia (68' Vicario), Bijleveld; El Azrak, Vertainen (55' Attys).
Substitutes: Borriello, Diakite, Tonetto, Baricchio.
Manager: Geppino Marino.
Pro Vercelli (3-4-2-1): Rizzo; Clemente, Marchetti, De Marino; Vigiani, Iotti, Louati, Pino (68' Schenetti); Rutigliano (68' Carosso), Bunino (83' Contaldo), Comi.
Substitutes: Passador, Lancellotti, Biagetti, Emmanuello, Gheza, Cugnata, Sbraga, Condello, Iezzi, Coppola, Serpe.
Manager: Paolo Cannavaro.
