Cittadella squashed under the sun in Reggio Calabria

For the first time since 2002, Cittadella lose a match in Reggio Calabria, losing 3-0 to league leaders Reggina. The Venetians were no match for Pippo Inzaghi’s side as they were squashed under the hot Italian sun.

In one of the furthest away trips of the season, Cittadella looked a bit lost in the opening 20 minutes. Reggina, in front of over 9,000 fans at the Stadio Oreste Granillo, took advantage of Citta’s slow start with a goal from Riccardo Gagliolo 22 minutes in. The center back snuck far post past the Cittadella defense and headed home the opening goal from the cross.

There were signs of life for Edoardo Gorini’s side as Cittadella slowly began to grow into the match, holding about 54% possession in the first half. Their best chance came just before halftime when Gagliolo misjudged a header which left Raul Asencio to have a hit. The Spaniards’ effort had to be pairied away by Simone Colombi, who made the diving stop.

Though it wasn’t the greatest first half, Cittadella still matched Reggina’s shot total with two shots a piece. In the second half, Gorini brought on Ignacio Lores Varela and Mamadou Tounkara in hopes of bringing fresh attackers to penetrate the Reggina defense.

Just like the end of the first half, Cittadella got more comfortable on the ball. Varela was finding through balls and Asencio kept battling for half yards of space to find a shot.

But all hopes of earning a point were diminished 58 minutes in, when Jeremy Menez teed it up for Inter loanee Giovanni Fabbian to score just outside the six yard box. A late second half comeback seemed improbable for Gorini’s side.

To make absolutely sure, Reggina added their third to seal their fourth win of the season. Niccolo Pierozzi pounced on a pinging ball on top of the box, and found an unmarked Gabriele Gori at the far post, and he would never miss from there. Cittadella’s nightmare afternoon was finally finished with a 3-0 beating in Reggio Calabria.

It’s not often Cittadella enter an international break needing recovery; it has been an intense start to the season for the Granata. Goalkeeper Elhan Kastrati is off to national team duty for Albania in their UEFA Nations League matches against Israel and Iceland. For the rest of the squad, they will have two full weeks of rest before their next league match at home against Ternana on the first day of October.

Top Photo: La Presse