Serie C 2024/25: Triestina 0-1 Giana Erminio

It was a highly tense match at Stadio Rocco for the fourteenth round of the 2024/25 Serie C season, where Triestina couldn’t afford any mistakes as they hosted a Giana Erminio team that had earned only one point in its last five games and had suddenly dropped into the relegation zone. Clotet was still without Olivieri and opted for a 4-3-2-1 formation, starting Voca and Vallocchia alongside Correia, while Krollis led the attack, supported by D'Urso and Attys. Giana, missing their offensive anchor Trombetta, saw Chiappella set up his team with a defensive 3-5-2 but ready to counterattack in open spaces; Nichetti, the recent acquisition, made his debut in midfield, with Stuckler carrying the offensive weight and Montipò offering support.

The visitors showed initiative early on, getting a shot off from a corner in the 3rd minute with a header by Ferri; his timing was excellent, but the centrally-placed ball allowed Roos an easy catch. Chiappella's setup was highly defensive, quickly transitioning to counterattacks, with Giana securing five corners in the first 15 minutes, confirming their stronger start. However, as the minutes ticked by, Triestina began to gain ground and, after two corners, seemingly scored in the 24th minute with a close-range left-footed shot by Vallocchia, only to be stopped by an offside call. On the counter, Giana had a chance with Stuckler, who sent a low shot wide, missing what was almost an open goal after a left-wing move by Pinto, who found him unmarked at the center.

At the half-hour mark, Bijleveld swung in an interesting cross from the left flank. Krollis timed his move well to the near post but failed to angle his header, resulting in a comfortable save for Mangiapoco. The match took a turn in the 34th minute when Triestina was reduced to ten men; Ferri and Krollis got entangled in the box, and the Triestina forward reacted to a shove with a foul, earning a straight red from referee Di Loreto. The visitors attempted to capitalize immediately with a couple of quick pushes, but Triestina responded by pressing higher. Despite this, neither side created clear chances, and the first half ended scoreless.

At the start of the second half, De Maria and Vallocchia each attempted shots from mid-range but failed to trouble the goal. Vertainen came on for Voca at the break, and in the 49th minute, the Finnish midfielder nearly troubled the Giana defense with a solo run, forcing a scramble to clear the ball. The visitors naturally maintained more possession, looking to exploit gaps, but Triestina was defensively solid, with Roos never truly tested. The first real scare arrived in the 65th minute from a cross by Pinto; Caferri met it at the far post but misdirected his header, sending the ball wide.

In the span of five minutes, Frare and Germano exited due to apparent muscle issues, replaced by Moretti and Pavlev. Just before the 75th minute, a tricky free kick from the right by D’Urso nearly went to waste but took a bounce that allowed Attys a close-range shot, deflected out for a corner by a fortunate ricochet off a defender. Triestina’s defense appeared to handle Giana’s territorial dominance well, but four minutes before injury time, Giana broke through on the right, and Avinci tapped in a cross from close range, putting them in front. In the four minutes of stoppage time, the visitors missed a couple of counter opportunities, while Triestina pushed for an equalizer with a cross from the right by Attys, narrowly missing a header by Tonetto. The match ended with a hard-fought defeat, dealing a blow to both Triestina’s morale and precarious standings.

Triestina 0-1 Giana Erminio

Scorers: 86' Avinci

Triestina (4-3-2-1): Roos; Germano (73' Pavlev), Bianconi, Frare (68' Moretti), Bijleveld; Vallocchia, Correia, Voca (46' Vertainen); Attys, D'Urso (82' Tonetto); Krollis.
Substitutes: Diakite, Mutavcic, El Azrak, Kiyine, Jonsson, Rizzo, Baricchio.
Manager: Pep Clotet

Giana Erminio (3-5-2): Mangiapoco; Previtali, Ferri, Colombara; Caferri, Marotta, Nichetti, Pinto (69' Renda), De Maria (69' Avinci); Montipò (69' Lamesta), Stuckler.
Substitutes: Pirola, Moro, Spaviero, Ballabio, Pala, Pirotta, Alborghetti, Piazza, Renda.
Manager: Chiappella