Goals, red cards, and drama: Cittadella and Palermo play an instant classic.
On March 11, 2023 by Jake IovineTommy Maistrello’s brace helped Cittadella get a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Palermo on Saturday afternoon.
The match had everything you could’ve imagined: red cards, back and forth action, and tons of goals. Maistrello scored his first pair of goals in Serie B as Cittadella settle for a draw at the Stadio Piercesare Tombolato.
It didn’t take long for the ex-Renate striker to find the net after three minutes into the game. Maistrello tucked a well-hit volley into the bottom corner, giving Cittadella the perfect start.
The Granata didn’t stop there. In the 21st minute, Valerio Mastrantonio was first to the loose ball, drawing a foul inside the penalty box. The birthday boy Mirko Antonucci slotted home his 9th goal of the season, while giving Cittadella a 2-0 lead inside the first half an hour.
On the other end, this time it was Palermo who had a chance from twelve yards out. Following a quick VAR check on Giuseppe Carrero’s trailing leg, the referee awarded the visitors a penalty kick. Francesco Di Mariano fired his effort into the roof of the net, getting the Rosanero back into the game.
Tensions were building on the benches in this high intensity game. The referee did not like what Palermo coach Eugenio Corini had to say, and showed him a red card just five minutes before halftime for dissent.
Only minutes until halftime, the second highest goalscorer in the league, Matteo Brunori, got his side level with a clever scissor kick with his back turned towards goal. Palermo, encouraged by their traveling 1,500+ fans, had all the momentum going into halftime.
That momentum carried on into the second half, and they eventually got the go-ahead goal through Di Mariano. A free run on the far post, Edoardo Solari found the attacker alone, gifting him an easy finish. Di Mariano’s brace had given Palermo the lead for the first time in the game.
Incredibly, the game had more to write. Cittadella, without leaving without a fight, fought their way back into the game. It was Tommy Maistrello once again that found the net for the second time in the match. Stronger in the air, Maistrello placed a powerful header from Federico Giraudo’s cross, too strong for Mirko Pigliacelli to keep it out of the goal.
For the remaining five minutes of the match, Cittadella were reduced to 10 men, following Simone Branca’s late challenge to a ball, which gave the referee no choice but to show the midfielder his second yellow card. Minutes later, another Cittadella member joined Branca in the dressing room. Head coach Edoardo Gorini was sent off in the final minutes, and just like how Corini went in the first half, the Cittadella boss may have said something that the referee did not like.
A wild and chaotic match ended with no winner as it finished 3-3. Cittadella stay five points clear of the relegation play-out spot, and will see this result as a valuable point, despite throwing away a 2-0 lead. For Palermo, it’s a wasted opportunity to edge closer to the promotion playoff spots, who now sit two points away from 8th place Parma.
Only one more game remains until the March international break begins. Cittadella stay at home to face Perugia next Saturday, while Palermo get ready for the Friday night match against Modena.
Top Photo: Ettore Griffoni/LaPresse