Cittadella opens the season with a tight win over Vicenza

The journey towards Serie A has officially begun.

It was a great team performance and a gutsy win, but at the end of the day three points is three points. Thanks to a goal from an unlikely finisher in the name of Domenico Frare, Cittadella starts off the league with maximum points.

While the scoreline may tell you that it was a tight affair, it must be said that it was a very deserving win for the Granata. Throughout the match, the heavy amount of possession and shots towards the goal was very clear from the get-go.

Fans gathered at the Stadio Piercesare Tombolato for back to back weeks as Vicenza were in town for the first league match of the season. Cittadella dominated possession from the start, and had many opportunities throughout the half.

Cittadella fans should be excited about the link up play with Cassandro and Vita out on the right. Many times in the first half, the young fullback would push forward for the cross, and Vita would combine well with the right back. Crossing was definitely not the strongest point in this match, as too many times the ball would travel all the way through without clean connection from an attacker. The other times it was too easy for the keeper to gobble up the ball.

Orji Okwonkwo had a fairly quiet match as compared to last weekend. The Nigerian was played in behind by Baldini, in which he confidently slotted the ball pass the incoming Vicenza keeper. Although the goal would be called for offside, it should be a hint that more things like that are to come. Okwonkwo is very good at getting past the backline using his pace and finishing quality.

The big moment came about eight minutes after halftime. After a great chance, Cittadella were awarded the corner, in which Baldini found Vita on the edge of the box. Vita drilled the ball low and hard towards the penalty mark, where Domenico Frare was waiting. In a crowded area, Frare poked the ball through the hands of Pizzignacco, giving the lead 1-0.

The visitors weren’t done yet. A through ball inside the 18 forced Kastrati to made a 1v1 save off his face. Frare nearly went from hero to zero as a bouncing cross was mismanaged, making the ball slip off his foot and off the post.

With five minutes remaining, an overlapping run following a counter attack saw Calderoni on the run. A risky slide tackle by Christian D’Urso convinced the referee to call a penalty. But after a VAR check, the decision was overturned and the left back was handed a yellow card for simulation.

Cittadella held on to grind out a deserving win over their Veneto rivals. Edoardo Gorini is still undefeated as head coach, going far back as preseason. A great Saturday night leaves Citta with three points in the season opener. Their next match is scheduled for next Sunday, August 29th at 9am and the Tombolato once more as the Granata welcome Crotone.