Benevento 4-1 Cittadella, the score doesn’t tell you all

Cittadella make it back to back away defeats early on this season. Gianluca Lapadula’s second half hat trick helps Benevento prevail over the Granata on Tuesday night, but the scoreline doesn’t tell the entire story about this game.

From the start, everyone knew it was going to be a difficult away match at the Stadio Ciro Vigorito. Cittadella head coach Edoardo Gorini put out seven changes from the victory last weekend against Pordenone. With Lecce in sights, changes in the lineup were needed.

Cittadella didn’t play BAD in this match. In fact, they looked great in many parts throughout the game. The defense line did a good job of weathering the storm in the opening 30 minutes, and it seemed like Cittadella were more likely to score in the second half.

After scoring the decisive goal last Saturday, Orji Okwonkwo got into the starting eleven once again. Straight away, the Nigerian striker seemed to have been on the end of every Cittadella attack. Two chances in the opening ten minutes could’ve been the perfect start for Citta. Instead, Benevento took the lead off a cheeky chip to the far post by midfielder Gennaro Acampora.

That goal rattled the Granata, and forced them to have more aggression in the final third. Just eight minutes after the conceded goal, Okwonkwo won a duel off a long ball from goalkeeper Luca Maniero. From there, Mirko Antonucci was ready to take off, and carried the ball up the midfield, with loads of space to attack. Antonucci slipped Okwonkwo in, after continuing his run from the duel he had won. The striker faked the trailing center back, and slotted it past Alberto Paleari near post to level the match.

It was a much needed response to get on level terms. Both teams had chances, and the game was wide open. From end to end, both teams had numbers going forward, but were a little vulnerable in the back. Okwonkwo missed another great chance as he just seemed to have miss hit his shot across the goal. The striker, who was having an action-filled first half, caused trouble for center back Kamil Glik when the Polish defender went to ground. Okwonkwo appealed for a penalty, which the referee quickly dismissed. On the replay, the ball struck the hand of Glik as he went to ground, but VAR wasn’t interested.

After halftime team talks, Cittadella began on the front foot. Having most possession in the Benevento half, it seemed only a matter of time before the Granata took the lead. Once Benevento had a little possession, they used it to their fullest potential. A ball over the top caused havoc between Amedeo Benedetti and Romano Perticone. An awkward bouncing ball, Benedetti was stuck in two minds, and Peruvian striker Gianluca Lapadula pounced first to it.

This is where the game shifted in favor of Benevento. Even Gorini knows this as well when you’ve got a international striker like Lapadula.

“For 70 minutes we played an excellent game, creating chances, then we gave away two goals and when you give a Peruvian international like Lapadula the space we gave them, it is obvious that you concede goals.” Gorini said in the post match interview.

Cittadella pushed for another equalizer, but it never looked like it was going to happen. It was one of those days, and after dominating most of the second half, Benevento were more clinical in front of goal. Lapadula scored his second on a deflected shot off Perticone. His third came two minutes later after a fast break which saw Benedetti and Adorni tracking back with runners, and Lapadula alone at the back post.

Is 4-1 a harsh scoreline for how Cittadella played on the night? Yes, 100 percent. Was it emptying that we should’ve scored and got the equalizer? Yes, but that’s how this team learns. Against a strong team like Benevento at the Ciro Vigorito, a point would’ve been a great result. Definitely some work to be done to get those finishing touches on matches, but the team shouldn’t put their heads down after a performance like this.

The Granata return home this weekend as they face Lecce at 8am EST. The stretch of difficult fixtures have begun, but Cittadella warn they have what it takes to beat the big teams in Serie B.