Torino 3-0 Pescara

Torino secured their first victory in Serie A for three years after a convincing 3-0 victory over newly promoted Pescara on Saturday evening. 

The Granata lined up in Giampiero Ventura's trademark 4-2-4 formation with Mario Santana and Alessandro Sgrigna coming in to make their first starts of the season. New signing Alessio Cerci, who was suspended for the opening game of the season at Siena, started on the bench.

The home side began the game brightly, and Kamil Glik's long ball from the back found Alessandro Sgrigna in space, but his shot from an acute angle was easily saved by Mattia Perin. The key moment of the match occurred just before the half hour mark, when Rolando Bianchi was brought down in the area by Pescara defender Christian Terlizzi.

Terlizzi was sent off for the foul, but Rolando Bianchi was unable to take the opportunity to give Toro the lead, as his penalty was brilliantly saved by Perin. That penalty was the first spot kick awarded to Torino in over a year, so Bianchi perhaps had an excuse for failing to convert it. However seven minutes later, Torino did take the lead when Alessandro Gazzi's lofted ball was expertly headed into Alessandro Sgrigna's path by Bianchi, and the 32 year old volleyed home to score his first ever Serie A goal. 

Sgrigna should have doubled his tally minutes into the second half, but this time he was denied by the legs of Mattia Perin, who was impressing in the Pescara goal. However, the former Vicenza striker was heavily involved in Torino's second goal, as he cut the ball back for Matteo Brighi to score his first goal for the club.

Ten men Pescara were struggling to cope with Torino's attacking movement, and three minutes later, captain Rolando Bianchi made amends for his missed penalty by heading home Salvatore Masiello's fine cross. Alessio Cerci came on for the last twenty minutes to make his debut for the club, but by that stage the game was already over as a contest, and Toro had secured an impressive first victory of the season.

Forza Toro