Casasola at the end of the match. In the last assault, Catania defeats Altamura and secures the away victory. This hadn't happened since the match against Monopoli on January 18. An important signal from the team after a difficult week during which rumors of a coaching change circulated. Today Toscano won, secured the three points needed, and now the management finds itself at a crossroads: the rumors of a coaching change had been circulating until just a few hours before the match but how will the management now be able to dismiss him?

Until the post-match, there were no rumors of a dismissal. On the contrary, the club seemed intent on continuing with the current coach. And the words of Casasola and Donnarumma at the end of the game reinforced Toscano's position: "We play also to confirm that we are united and do not pay attention to the rumors that spread." In the post-match Toscano did not speak because, as the press office informed us in the interview room at the Altamura stadium, the coach had suffered a malaise due to the accumulated tension during the confrontation.

During the night, however, Vice President Grella has a meeting planned with the Australian ownership, thus with Pelligra himself, and Mark Bresciano, to decide how to act and continue.  

So more than the match, now until last night, attention was on what might happen (or not happen because until today nothing has happened) in the coming hours. Only a victory would have set things right at least until next Monday, the time of the match against Casarano at Massimino. But even this is no longer certain. Catania won in Altamura with a goal from Di Tacchio, as generous as ever, but a central free kick that was not difficult to read brought the match back to parity.

The impression, until the goal by Casasola, is that the team, while fighting to the maximum, is a bit mentally restrained compared to the victory over Cosenza, but has always shone in recent performances trying to counter Benevento at the top. The distance is now irretrievable but what mattered today was the result that allows the rossazzurri to put a serious mortgage on second place.

Even in Altamura the script did not change. Catania ready to build after having risked at the start, but at the most complicated moment here comes the goal from Di Tacchio on a cross from Casasola. In the second half, the equalizer from a free kick by Curcio. The team, that of Toscano, unable to react except in the frantic finale during which it secured the match. First the chances from Caturano (the goalkeeper deflects with a miraculous dive) and Lunetta.

But the match heated up right at the end with a goal disallowed for Altamura for offside by Falasca. Mangia was sent off, the home coach for protests but the decision was correct. And at the most exciting moment the goal from the Argentine made the 200 who arrived from Catania jump, while another 100 or more remained outside protesting the travel restrictions. Will this be enough for Toscano to save his position? 

The scorecard

ALTAMURA-CATANIA 1-2

 

Altamura (3-4-1-2) Alastra 7; Zazza 6, Poli 5.5 (from 44’ s.t. Mbaye n.e.), Silletti 6; Morgentale 6.5, Nazzaro 6, Dipinto 6 (from 42’ s.t. Doumbia n.e.), Falasca 6; Grande 6.5; Rosafio 5 (from 1’ s.t. Millico 6), Curcio 7. On the bench: Viola, Suazo, Agostinelli, Simone,  Florio, Nicolao, Dimola, Fantoni. Coach. Mangia 6.

Catania (3-4-2-1): Dini 5; Pieraccini 6 (from 1’ s.t. Ierardi 5.5), Miceli 6, Allegretto 6.5; Casasola 7, Quaini 6 (from 16’ s.t. Di Noia 6), Di Tacchio 6.5 (from 32’ s.t. Bruzzaniti n.e.), Donnarumma 6.5 (from 32’ s.t. Celli n.e.); Lunetta 6, D’Ausilio 6 (from 13’ s.t. Jimenez 5.5); Caturano 5. On the bench: Bethers, Raimo, Doni, Cargnelutti, Corbari. Coach. Toscano 6. 

 Referee: Diop from Treviglio 6.5 (Marchese, Taverna).

Goals: Di Tacchio at 26’ p.t.; at 18’ s.t. Curcio, at 48’ s.t. Casasola.

Notes: Spectators 2,000. Mangia, local coach, sent off for protests at 47’ s.t. Yellow cards for Di Tacchio, Pieraccini, Quaini, Casasola, Poli. Corners 4-5. Recovery 2’ and 6’.