Crotone Trounce Spezia 4-1 for First Win of the Season

On Saturday afternoon, Spezia traveled to Crotone for a Serie A relegation six-pointer. The Sharks went into the game bottom of the points table and in search of their first win of the season eleven games into the campaign.

Crotone’s search for the elusive win came to an end despite the tough task Giovanni Stroppa’s men had on their hands. In previous games, they failed with their chances in front of goal, while remaining porous at the back. These statistics were in the rear view mirror as Crotone came out 4-1 winners.

Junior Messias opened the scoring from a swift counter-attack for Crotone. Spezia hit back through Diego Farias. The scores would not change again in the first half. In the second period, the black-and-whites became the architects of their own downfall, conceding two goals in the opening exchanges from the boots of Arkadiusz Reca and Eduardo. Messias would score his second of the night in added time to complete the relegation rout.

? #SerieA | #MatchDay11
⏰ 15:00
? Stadio Ezio Scida
⚽️ #CrotoneSpezia #StartingXI#WeAreSharks ??? pic.twitter.com/EHi1kxVro3

— FC Crotone (@FcCrotoneOff) December 12, 2020

Crotone started the game with an early goal, belying their poor start to the 2020-21 campaign. They were pegged in their own half as Spezia hounded their box, but defense changed to attack at full tile. Luca Marrone found Junior Messias in the 7th minute, and the Brazilian forward went on a dizzying solo run. Messias beat the keeper from an outside the box shot to give his side the lead.

Coach Vincenzo Italiano must have planned to be pegged back this early into the game as his charges replied swiftly. Niccolò Zanellato gave the ball away to Diego Farias, who took his chance from the edge of the box, leaving Alex Cordaz sculpted where he stood. The scores were level, eleven minutes after the first.

Spezia put the Crotone defense under pressure, coming close through Nahuel Estevez and Tommaso Pobega, but came up empty-handed. Eduardo Henrique created the only other meaningful chance for the hosts.

OUR STARTING XI! ?#CrotoneSpezia pic.twitter.com/dyyP0HXrEp

— Spezia Calcio English ?? (@AcspeziaE) December 12, 2020

The second half began in the same vein as the first. Messias put the Spezia defense behind him in the 46th minute before firing a low effort towards goal. Ivan Provedel made a diving save to maintain the status quo. However, the Italian goalkeeper was unable to keep Crotone’s next attacking foray.

Salvatore Molina sent a long ball in, which Arkadiusz Reca expertly managed to control. The on-loan Polish defender from Atalanta evaded a sliding tackle before shifting the ball to his right-foot and trying his luck. Provedel had no answer as the ball sunk into the back of the net. There was a VAR check that delayed the celebrations, but it only proved to be precautionary.

Spezia’s woes were doubled in the 56th minute. On the right flank, Pedro Pereira received the ball on the overlap. He left the chasing pack behind him on the by-line before cutting in to send in a cross. The Portuguese found Eduardo, who only had to keep his head down and tap the ball into the empty net. The Brazilian obliged as requested as Crotone doubled their lead and earned breathing space.

The Eagles tried to change the tide of the game but were undone by their profligacy in front of goal. Giulio Maggiore should have tested Cordaz with a more potent attempt, but his 63rd-minute strike was off target.

They had seemingly genuine penalty claims in the 85th minute, but neither the referee nor VAR thought the same. Until the end, they would huff and puff around the Crotone area but were denied by the alert defense.

On the other end of the pitch, Crotone spurned chances to increase their lead. Salvatore Molina could not get past Provedel from within the six-yard box. At the same time, Junior Messias would hit the back of the net in the 86th minute but was adjudged to be offside.

È finita! #CrotoneSpezia 4-1
Prima vittoria stagionale per gli ???
Doppietta per Junior Messias, a segno anche Reca ed Eduardo#WeAreSharks ?❤️? pic.twitter.com/XBHTip4Gp2

— FC Crotone (@FcCrotoneOff) December 12, 2020

The Brazilian would give a better account of his abilities in added time. He pounced on a defensive error from a back-pass, getting one-on-one with the goalkeeper. He targeted the bottom right corner to make it 4-1 – their best result in six months.

With the end of year games coming in thick, the win and three points should inspire confidence in Crotone. They have brought down the point difference between teams in relegation slots to one, and need more favorable results for their ascension in the league table.  

 

MATCH REPORT

December 12, 2020 – Europa League 2020-21 Group Stage
CROTONE-SPEZIA 4-1

SCORERS: 7’ Messias (C), 18’ Farias (S), 49’ Reca (C), 56’ Eduardo (C), 95’ Messias (C)

REFEREE: Mr. Giua from Olbia
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Messias, Eduardo, Magallan (C), Chabot, Ferrer, Maggiore (S),