Courtesy: EuroSport
Venezia will play in Serie A for the first time in 20 years next season after a stoppage-time equalizer secured them a 1-1 tie with Cittadella in the Serie B play-off final on Thursday, resulting in a 2-1 aggregate win.
If the second leg match ended in a draw, Paolo Zanetti’s Venezia would be promoted without the need for extra time or a penalty shoot-out at the Stadio Penzo. They entered the home second leg with a 1-0 lead, but fell down after 26 minutes to a Federico Proia goal and had Pasquale Mazzocchi sent off 10 minutes later. Despite being reduced to 10 men for over an hour, the Lagunari did not take many risks or demand massive saves.
Riccardo Bocalon’s 93rd-minute equalizer placed Venezia back in lead on aggregate, securing their return to the top division, which they previously occupied in 2001-02.
Venezia finished fifth in the Serie B overall but defeated Chievo Verona, Lecce, and Cittadella to win the six-team playoffs. Empoli won Serie B to secure their return to the top division, while Salernitana finished second to secure the other automatic promotion slot.
Venezia last played in Serie A in 2001-02 but has gone bankrupt three times since then, whereas Cittadella — also headquartered in the Veneto region – has never made it to the top level.
WE’RE BACK! 🟠⚫️🟢 pic.twitter.com/WXvH2PfnLw
— Venezia FC (@VeneziaFC_EN) May 27, 2021