Pescara have the upper hand in the Serie B promotion play-off Final after beating 10-man Trapani 2-0 in the first leg.
One of these two teams will be in the top flight next season, joining Cagliari and Crotone.
This clash was billed as one between the all-attack approach of Massimo Oddo’s Pescara and the rock-solid defence of Serse Cosmi’s Trapani.
Right from the start, the Delfini poured forward and threatened with Gianluca Caprari and Gianluca Lapadula, while Trapani picked up a series of bookings.
Pescara have the upper hand in the Serie B promotion play-off Final after beating 10-man Trapani 2-0 in the first leg.
One of these two teams will be in the top flight next season, joining Cagliari and Crotone.
This clash was billed as one between the all-attack approach of Massimo Oddo’s Pescara and the rock-solid defence of Serse Cosmi’s Trapani.
Right from the start, the Delfini poured forward and threatened with Gianluca Caprari and Gianluca Lapadula, while Trapani picked up a series of bookings.
Matteo Scozzarella took it too far when he was booked, then kicked the ball away in protest and received another yellow card, reducing the Sicilians to 10 men for over an hour.
Andrade continued to beat away efforts from Valerio Verre and Lapadula before Zampano’s shot was redirected by Ahmed Benali to put Pescara in front.
It remained a siege from the hosts and Lapadula took his tally for the season to 30 goals in 42 Serie B games, none of them penalties. The Italian-Peruvian striker waltzed around his marker to smash in a left-foot finish.
As Pescara finished higher up the table in the regular season, Trapani will need to win the second leg 3-0 to secure promotion on Thursday evening.
Pescara 2-0 Trapani
Scorers: Benali 47 (P), Lapadula 71 (P)
Pescara: Fiorillo; Zampano, Fornasier, Campagnaro, Crescenzi; Benali, Verre (Selasi 88), Torreira; Memushaj (Verde 64), Caprari (Mitrita 77); Lapadula
Trapani: Andrade; Scognamiglio, Pagliarulo, Perticone; Fazio, Eramo, Nizzetto, Scozzarella, Rizzato; Coronado (Barilla’ 51), Petkovic (De Cenco 73)
Ref: Pairetto
Sent off: Scozzarella 27 (T)