Serie C 2024/25: Pergolettese 1-0 Triestina

Pep Clotet’s debut as Triestina’s manager was a highly sensitive head-to-head clash at Pergolettese, who, like Triestina, are mired at the bottom of the standings but sit two points above the Alabardati. The Catalan coach deployed a 4-3-1-2 formation with Attys on the left as a mezz’ala and Kiyine positioned behind the attacking duo Olivieri-Krollis, with D’Urso finally available on the bench. The hosts, set up by Curioni in a 4-3-3, featured former Triestina player Lambrughi leading the defense, an experienced midfield with Arini and Scarsella, and an attack spearheaded by Parker, supported by Albertini and Bouabre.

Under heavy rain, Triestina quickly had a golden opportunity, with Kiyine setting Olivieri free on the left just forty seconds in. Olivieri’s superb pass back found Braima, who powered a shot from twenty meters that missed the bottom corner by centimeters. In the 7th minute, Olivieri’s high pressing caused a scare for Cordaro in the small box, who managed to clear at the last second; the play continued with Correia trying a shot from medium range, which sailed over the crossbar. Triestina maintained pressure, and in the 19th minute forced a tricky save from Cordaro on a venomous shot from Correia, following a defensive clearance in response to Kiyine’s grounded cross into the area.

The visitors displayed superiority in ball possession, creating two promising chances from medium distance around the 30th minute, though neither Olivieri nor Braima found the target. Triestina came close again in the 39th minute as Krollis controlled and curled a shot from twenty meters out; Cordaro barely tipped it onto the crossbar. In the 40th minute, a corner play saw Olivieri pass short to Germano, who played back to Krollis, but his left-footed shot near the front post went high. At the end of the first half, Pergolettese had their first opportunity, with Albertini getting on the end of a Jaouhari cross at the far post, forcing Roos into a low save. The teams returned to the changing rooms at 0-0, a score that hardly reflected Triestina’s numerous dangerous chances to break the deadlock.

The second half started with another big chance for Triestina; only thirty seconds in, Olivieri struck a close-range volley from a long cross by Bijleveld, which Cordaro saved instinctively, preserving the draw. On the opposite end, Parker attempted a header off Jaouhari’s corner in the 46th minute, sending the ball narrowly wide. After a quarter of an hour with the hosts raising their line but failing to generate threats, Attys tried a powerful shot from twenty meters in the 65th minute, slightly deflected by a defender and narrowly missing the target. In the 71st minute, Kiyine delivered a perfect deep pass to Attys, who attempted a cross near the goal area that deflected off a defender, forcing Cordaro to parry it away in a scramble.

Eight minutes from the end, Pergolettese found a fortuitous goal in a crowded box from a set piece, with Arini slotting the ball past the helpless Roos from close range. Triestina threw everything forward in a last-ditch effort to find an equalizer, but continued to be unlucky, leaving Crema with a frustrating defeat.

Pergolettese 1-0 Triestina

Scorers: 83’ Arini

Pergolettese (4-3-3): Cordaro; Tonoli, Stante, Lambrughi, Capoferri; Jaouhari (66’ Schiavini), Arini, Scarsella (87’ Abubakar); Albertini (87’ Bignami), Parker, Bouabre (46’ Cerasani).

Substitutes: Dordoni, Raimondi, Basili, Lecchi, Sartori, Olivieri, Anelli.

Manager: Giacomo Curioni

Triestina (4-3-1-2): Roos; Germano, Struna (79’ Moretti), Frare, Bijleveld; Braima, Correia, Attys (79’ Jonsson); Kiyine (79’ D’Urso), Olivieri, Krollis.

Substitutes: Diakite, Mutavcic, Vallocchia, Vicario, El Azrak, Tonetto, Baricchio, Pavlev, Thordarson.

Manager: Pep Clotet