Cittadella woes continue after 4-2 loss against Spezia

Cittadella were defeated for the fifth time in a row on Saturday, falling 4-2 against Spezia after a disaster first half.

The Granata had not won a game since Jan. 13, having gone four games without picking up any points entering the weekend. Spezia had collected three positive results prior to Saturday but still remained in the relegation zone.

Cittadella head coach Edoardo Gorini believed his team was once again held back by officiating in the match.

“The key moments decide the matches,” Gorini said after the match. “Unfortunately, in those moments, we were punished by the referee.”

Gorini’s side were down a goal and two players entering halftime following red cards shown to Simone Branca and Matteo Angeli.

“To play football and to referee a game, you need to have personality,” Gorini said. “The referee didn’t have that.”

Cittadella striker Luca Pandolfi got the Venetian side off to a dream start after firing a volley into the net after two minutes. Alessio Vita recorded his fourth assist of the season to pick out Pandolfi at the top of the box.

Spezia equalized in the 38th minute from Daniele Verde’s free kick. The long-time Spezia attacker stuck the ball under the crossbar, putting the score level.

Le Aquile took the lead two minutes later from a header off of Giuseppe Di Serio, who scored in back-to-back games. It got worse for Cittadella as captain Simone Branca received a red card on the stroke of halftime. According to Gorini, Branca told referee Matteo Gualtieri to “f*** off” shortly after committing a foul.

Seconds later, Cittadella were reduced to nine men after Matteo Angeli received his second yellow card for pulling down Di Serio. The Granata had conceded twice and lost two players in the span of 10 minutes.

“I only ask for fairness,” Gorini said. “We worked all week and they gave a foul that wasn’t, which was scored. I don’t ask for much, all I want is fairness.”

Spezia center back Lukas Muhl scored the host’s third goal in the 51st minute, heading a free kick into the far post.

Despite being down two players, Cittadella still had life in the 79th minute when substitute Andrea Magrassi punished a mistake in the Spezia defense between Muhl and keeper Jeroen Zoet, slotting the ball into an empty net.

Cittadella debutant Edoardo Sottini committed a foul inside the box, and Spezia ensured the three points in stoppage time after Luca Moro buried his penalty.

Cittadella lose another game as they fall in Liguria 4-2 against Spezia. The Granata remain in 7th place and now only three points above the playoff line.

PHOTO: Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse