Torino 4-2 Pescara

Torino recorded their most impressive victory of the season, as they thrashed Pescara 4-2 to maintain their four point lead at the top of Serie B.

Torino made three changes from the abandoned match against Padova, as the three players who were suspended for that match - Alessandro Parisi, Migjen Basha and Giuseppe Vives came into the starting eleven. The inclusion of Vives meant that Torino did not play their usual 4-4-2 formation, and instead lined up in a 4-3-3 in order to match up with their opponents.

In the opening stages, Torino had a very good case for a penalty turned down when Giuseppe Vives made a run into the area and the midfielder seemed to be upended by Damiano Zanon, but for some reason the referee did not point to the spot. It was then the visitors turn to feel aggrieved when Ciro Immobile had a goal disallowed for offside, but replays showed that the goal should have stood.

Thanks to the open attacking game that the visitors were playing, Torino were able to create numerous chances, with Rolando Bianchi, Alessandro Sgrigna and Alen Stevanovic all going close. Then seven minutes before the break, Torino took the lead when Manuel Iori's floated cross found Migjen Basha, whose deft touch diverted it into the net - his first goal for the club.

Minutes later, Torino should have doubled their lead when Alen Stevanovic got to the byline and crossed for Rolando Bianchi, but somehow, the Torino captain failed to make contact with the ball from two yards out, and instead he could only collide with the post.

It looked as though that miss could prove to be crucial for Torino, as just three minutes into the second half, Pescara were level. On loan Juventus striker Ciro Immobile ran past Kamil Glik with ease before opening out his body to curl the ball into the bottom corner.

However, Pescara were not on level terms for long, as just five minutes later Torino regained the lead in bizarre circumstances. A long ball by Danilo D'Ambrosio was intercepted by a diving header from the onrushing Pescara keeper Luca Anania, but the ball fell to Giuseppe Vives, and with the goalkeeper off his line, Vives kept his cool and side footed the ball into the empty net from 35 yards.

Ten minutes later, Torino extended their lead, this time Danilo D'Ambrosio found Alessandro Sgrigna, who broke the offside trap and was given time and space before calmly finishing past Anania. And the former Vicenza striker scored again to put the result beyond any doubt, when Migjen Basha's through ball exploited the high line of the Pescara defence one more, and Sgrigna rounded the keeper to claim his second goal of the match.

Toro will be disappointed that their concentration levels dropped in the closing stages, as in injury time, a careless back pass from D'Ambrosio was intercepted by Immobile, as he scored his eleventh goal of the season. However, Torino can be pleased with the performance as they convincingly beat one of their promotion rivals, although they were aided by some terrible defending by the visitors.


Forza Torino