Spezia are on the verge of their first ever promotion into Serie A after securing a 1-0 first leg play-off victory away to Frosinone.
The second and decisive leg will be on Thursday August 20. Spezia finished third in the regular season and Frosinone eighth, but this could be the first ever promotion into Serie A for minnows Spezia.
After a decisive Martin Erlic block on Federico Dionisi, it was Spezia who took the lead when Emanuel Gyasi gathered the Giulio Maggiore assist and turned to power past the goalkeeper.
Spezia are on the verge of their first ever promotion into Serie A after securing a 1-0 first leg play-off victory away to Frosinone.
The second and decisive leg will be on Thursday August 20. Spezia finished third in the regular season and Frosinone eighth, but this could be the first ever promotion into Serie A for minnows Spezia.
After a decisive Martin Erlic block on Federico Dionisi, it was Spezia who took the lead when Emanuel Gyasi gathered the Giulio Maggiore assist and turned to power past the goalkeeper.
To make matters worse, Frosinone hitman Dionisi was booked moments later and will be suspended for the second leg. It’s a bitter blow, as he is their joint top scorer this season with 12 goals.
Mirko Gori stung Spezia goalkeeper Simone Scuffet’s gloves, but the visitors threatened to increase their lead with two good chances for Andrej Galabinov.
Luca Paganini couldn’t keep his header on target from close range, but Galabinov missed an absolute sitter from 12 yards for Spezia, hitting a fresh-air shot.
Frosinone poured forward for the final 15 minutes, threatening with Alessio Tribuzzi and Paganini, but Francesco Bardi was almost caught in possession by M’Bala Nzola in stoppages for another Spezia goal.
This result means Alessandro Nesta’s Canarini have to win the second leg in Spezia, but they already lost 1-0 at home to Pordenone in the play-off semi-final only to turn it around away from home.
Frosinone 0-1 Spezia
Gyasi 21 (S)
Frosinone: Bardi; Brighenti, Ariaudo, Krajnc; Paganini, Rohden, Maiello, Gori (Tribuzzi 71), Salvi (Beghetto 83); Novakovich (Ardemagni 84), Dionisi (Ciano 57)
Spezia: Scuffet; Ferrer, Terzi, Erlic, Vitale (Ramos 64); Bartolomei, Ricci, Maggiore (Mora 64); Nzola, Galabinov (Ricci 74), Gyasi
Ref: Fourneau