SAMPIERDARENA - DUNFERMLINE 1-2

11 PM or thereabouts, status of the mission: accomplished.
On a rainy night, on the back of their worst league defeat this season, and against a side capable of collecting 10 wins on the bounce prior to last night's encounter, Dunfermline sealed the first part of a marvellous season by beating Sampierdarena in what was a tense and edgy game, not a pretty football game to watch, just what the lads needed, though, to make sure they're in the top two and therefore in the Excellence Playoffs.
Contextually, the Pars have also re-gained the summit of the table, following Berto's defeat at the hands of a playoff hopeful Le Café side.

Gaffer Vanin deployed Semino in goal, Frassinelli and Filippi composing the defence, with Bovalino, Marletta and Cantelli fielded in the middle of the park. Buccianti completed the jigsaw upfront, and it was clear from the word go it wouldn't have been a mouthwatering game.
Marletta was yellow-carded for a lunge at Berveglieri, but he also had a good chance as Bruzzone failed to punch the ball properly and was nearly beaten by a long range chip shot from outside the box. Fortunately for the Samp keeper, though, the ball just went over the bar.
Buccianti and Cantelli combined well throughout, while Semino had little to do in a first half which terminated with a blank scoreline.

HALF TIME: Sampierdarena 0, Dunfermline 0

Proceedings were resumed and Frassinelli and Filippi seemed more and more self-assured while handling Andrea Ferrea, the league top-scorer, whereas the introduction of Manzano for the home side didn't cause any particular inconveniences to the Fifers.
Frasinelli was withdrawn and replaced by Buttitta, whilst Buccianti, who would later on play a pivotal part, was taken off as Borreani was introduced.
Late on, Frassinelli was re-introduced for Filippi and Buccianti for Bovalino.
Indeed, it was Buccianti who created a great opening, as he received a through ball from Cantelli and fed it into No 6's path.
The ref adjudged Cantelli to have been fouled inside the box, and up stepped Marletta to try and secure a vital lead from the spot.
Unfortunately, his penalty shot was easily found out by Samp keeper Bruzzone, who dived to his right and made a meal of it.
Dunfermline, therefore, squandered a glorious chance through their captain, and were soon on the receiving end of a 1-0 scoreline, as Manzano took care of a corner-kick, the ball bouncing off Filippi's shoulder and finding its way to the back of the net.
Doom and gloom all of the sudden, after a somewhat good performance, but that goal seemed to epitomise the lads' moment and all the efforts for a brilliant season seemed to have come to no happy ending.
Buccianti took it all on his shoulder, and produced the finest of passes, as a brilliant collective move involving Borreani and Cantelli was continued by the Tuscan striker with an unbelievably classy turn and pass towards Marletta, who made amends for his earlier mistake and smashed the ball past Bruzzone from close range.
Suddenly, the momentum of the game changed and although Semino had to produce at least two marvellous save to keep Ferrea's effort out, the lads appeared to be more self-confident.
Football is a bizarre sport, and just when things appeared to be destined to a valuable draw for The Pars, a stoppage time winner materialised.
Marletta took a free-kick from outside the box, on the right hand side, Bruzzone fumbled the ball, and Cantelli slid in to make it 2-1 and let the supporters' and the team's joy explode, strong as never before in a season of many ups and very few downs.
The ref took too long to blow the final whistle, and Semino was once again called upon to salvage all three points.
But the lads held firm until the final breath of the game and victory was reached.
Just wonderful.

FULL TIME: Sampierdarena 1, Dunfermline 2


DUNFERMLINE
Semino; Frassinelli, Filippi; Bovalino, Marletta, Cantelli; Buccianti
SUBS: Buttitta, Borreani
SUBS NOT USED: Perugini
SCORERS: Marletta, Cantelli
CAUTIONS: Marletta (Y)


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