Serie B: Epic 4-2 Catanzaro comeback ruins Brescia

Catanzaro needed a dramatic comeback and 4-2 extra time victory over Brescia with Pietro Iemmello’s brace to book a Serie B promotion play-off semi-final against Cremonese.

The Serie B play-off semi-finals are now set with Palermo-Venezia and Catanzaro-Cremonese to be played over two legs.

It took the Rondinelle just eight minutes to take the lead, as Gabriele Moncini knocked down the Dimitri Bisoli long ball for Nicolas Galazzi to bundle over the line from close range.

The hosts thought they had equalised with Jari Vandeputte, but his strike off the outside of the right boot thumped the upright.

It was only a warning, as moments later Pietro Iemmello spun round in the box to fire left-footed into the net.

Iemmello almost turned it around completely, denied by a Luca Lezzerini fingertip save at the top corner, and instead Moncini restored Brescia’s advantage by pouncing on a defensive slip.

Just as it looked as if the game would end 2-1 for Brescia, Catanzaro equalised deep into stoppages with Alfredo Donnarumma’s header on a corner to force extra time.

Due to the play-off rules, if it was still level after extra time, then Catanzaro would go through as they finished higher up the Serie B table in the regular season.

Serie B play-off in extra time

Andrea Fulignati denied the Lorenzo Dickmann strike and Davide Adorni nodded off target, but it was the hosts who turned it around through Enrico Brignola’s acrobatic finish.

Catanzaro goalkeeper Fulignati remained decisive on Bisoli, but then had to limp off at the 118^th minute with muscular problems.

Andrea Sala came on and was almost beaten within 60 seconds, as Giacomo Olzer got around him only to fire over the empty net.

Instead, Catanzaro added a fourth on the counter-attack with Iemmello, who dinked a delicate finish over the on-rushing goalkeeper.