Brescia continued their winning start to the season with a last-gasp victory over AusItalian Carl Valeri's Grosseto as Bologna fended off Spezia in the late game.

Possanzini really should have opened the scoring when he was sent clear, but fired straight at the goalkeeper. Mannini popped up with the decisive goal from a Taddei corner kick in stoppages, when the home side thought they had snatched a point off Serse Cosmi’s prestigious club. To add insult to injury, Moro was dismissed for a tackle from behind on Tacchinardi.
Scorer: Mannini 90 (B)
Sent off: Moro 92 (G)
Grosseto: Bressan; Innocenti, Mignani, Abruzzese, Gessa (Terra 74); Valeri, Consonni (Moro 83), Virga, Lazzari; Carparelli; Paulinho (Zecchin 77)
Brescia: Viviano; Mareco (Santacroce 68), Zoboli, Zambelli; Dallamano, Lima, Tacchinardi, Mannini, Stankevicius; Possanzini, Taddei
Ref: Morganti
Attendance: 10,000

Messina notched up their first victory of the season over stuttering Cesena in Sicily. Degano netted the winning goal with a precise left-footed angled drive and although Vascek, Mezavilla and Moscardelli had the chances to equalise, their finishing left something to be desired.

Bologna got off the mark with their first win of the season, but Spezia continue to struggle. Bombardini broke through after 15 minutes at the Picco with one of his trademark free kicks that curled round the outside of the defensive wall and in at the near post, taking the goalkeeper by surprise. Spezia had a penalty shout for handball, but the Rossoblu dominated and Santoni required a reaction save to deny Marazzina’s header. Adailton made his Bologna debut and immediately got on the scoresheet. The former Verona and Genoa hero struck eight minutes from time by pouncing on a loose ball. The home side nearly had a consolation goal in stoppages, but Antonioli fingertipped Guidetti’s header out from under the bar.

Albinoleffe are knocked off the top of the table, but still earned a late draw with current top scorer Cellini’s third goal in two games. Schwoch had given Vicenza the lead in spectacular fashion, dribbling past four defenders before thumping in a right-foot screamer. ‘Leffe threatened to get an equaliser and finally snatched it 19 minutes from time with Cellini’s long-range piledriver.

Despite ending the match with just nine men on the field, Rimini completed a comeback to send Bari crashing to their second consecutive defeat. Lanzafame had given the visitors a shock lead at the Stadio Neri just five minutes in and Jeda drew the tie level from the penalty spot. After Vitiello’s dismissal, the Southerners thought they had the opportunity to snatch a prestigious away victory, but instead Regonesi struck in stoppages to turn the game around. Valiani also saw red, but the result did not change.

Ravenna surprised Ascoli for their first ever home game in Serie B. Perhaps the visitors’ midweek Coppa Italia exploits took their toll, as they tired badly in the second half. Succi scored a screamer set up by Toledo and Chianese’s counter-attack doubled Ravenna’s advantage. Guberti gave his side hope, but with Foglio’s red card it was an uphill struggle.

Pisa caused the shock of Week 1 by winning at Bari, but were brought back down to ground on their first home Serie B game in 13 years by Frosinone. Yet the Tuscans can take heart from their impressive performance and the extremely controversial incident that decided this match. Castillo hit the upright from a tight angle early on, but it was after the restart that the referee insisted Amerini’s effort had crossed the line before Morello’s clearance.

Chievo absolutely dominated their first victory of the campaign and there were worrying signs for Triestina fans. The game was already over by the half-time whistle. Mantovani gathered Marcolini’s free kick to open the scoring, then six minutes later Pellissier thumped an angled drive into the far corner. New signing Italiano marked his debut with a trademark set-piece.

Serie B Week 2 Results

Avellino-Mantova 0-1
Chievo-Triestina 3-0
Grosseto-Brescia 0-1 (31/08)
Lecce-Treviso 1-0
Messina-Cesena 1-0
Piacenza-Modena 1-2
Pisa-Frosinone 0-1
Ravenna-Ascoli 2-1
Rimini-Bari 2-1
Spezia-Bologna 0-2 (3/09)
Vicenza-Albinoleffe 1-1

Serie B Ladder after week 2

Brescia, Lecce, Modena 6; Bologna, Mantova, Ravenna, Chievo, Messina, Rimini, Albinoleffe 4; Frosinone, Ascoli, Pisa, Treviso 3; Cesena, Triestina, Vicenza 1; Avellino, Grosseto, Bari, Piacenza, Spezia 0.

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