Messina-Nebros 1-1
Scorers: 23′ st Pontini, 41′ st Sarao.
Messina (4-2-3-1): Coco 5; Doni 5 (34′ st Noah sv), Blondett 5.5, Sbuttoni 5.5, Pellegrino 5.5 (28′ st Guerriero 6.5); Zampa 5 (24′ st Varela 6), Tanasa 5.5; Kragl 5, Bonanno 5.5 (18′ st Burzio 6.5), Palumbo 6 (18′ st Bollino 6); Sarao 6.5. Annex Torrisi 5.
Nebros (4-3-3): Paterniti 6.5; Noto 6, Saccà 6.5, Bontempo 7, Conti 6.5; Biondo 6.5, Barez 6, Pontini 7.5 (42′ st Scaffidi sv); Lucarelli 6, Castrovinci 6 (15′ st Traviglia 6.5), Scolaro 6 (15′ st Dovico 6). All. Palmeri 7.
Referee: Riccardo Mainini of Busto Arsizio 6.5. Assistants: Santi Emanuel Ranno from Catania and Roberto Fraggetta from Catania
Notes: Booked: Blondett (M), Lucarelli (N), Palumbo (M), Sarao (M). Corner: 5-1 – Added time: 6′ and 5′
Messina did badly, Nebros did well and it ended 1-1 at the “Franco Scoglio”. Disappointing home debut for the Giallorossi, who suffer against a class opponent who also comes close to scoring from the outside. The match opens, in the 3rd minute, with a shot from Kragl, just wide, then (13′) a long stop due to a clash between Sbuttoni and Blondett, treated and on the pitch with a noticeable bandage on their head and the pause seems to have affected Messina, not very reactive, combative and without adequate play in midfield. In the 26th minute Nebros is seen with a diagonal shot from Scolaro, which crosses the entire area, while in the 29th minute Palumbo crosses and Bonanno’s overhead kick is blocked by Bontempo’s header. In the 42nd minute Palumbo’s shot from the edge of the box was too easy for Paterniti, while a minute later Kragl’s cross grazed Zampa and deceived Palumbo who was unable to deflect it to the far post.
The second half began (14′) with a header from Kragl, following a cross from Pellegrino, blocked by Paterniti, but it was an isolated opportunity and Messina struggled too much to build. At 19′ Bollino is in, immediately dangerous, but Paterniti clears for a corner. Nebros holds the field well and, in the 23rd minute, takes advantage of an error by Sbuttoni, recovers the ball and throws it to Pontini who anticipates Coco’s exit for the 0-1. Messina is confused, Torrisi tries to change, but there isn’t the right attitude: sterile pressure which, however, materializes in the 41st minute when Guerriero’s cross from the left finds the winning deflection, headed by Sarao for the final 1-1. Only one point and an unexpected half internal misstep.
Two years after his death, Messina presented a plaque to the wife and son of Christian Argurio, former Messina manager.