Santa Croce sweep past Frigintini to reach Coppa Italia last 32

Santa Croce Soccer reached the last 32 of the Coppa Italia Promozione by beating Frigintini 4-1 at the Stadio Pietro Scollo in Modica on Wednesday 30 September, closing out the return leg with the cushion of a 2-1 win from the first meeting. The tie was decided inside the opening 45 minutes.

Tomaino opened in the ninth minute, striking low from distance in a shot that surprised the Frigintini goalkeeper. Camuti doubled the lead on the half-hour, Russello made it three shortly before the interval, and Zarrella added a fourth on the stroke of half-time. The burst was decisive but not inevitable: Frigintini, trailing by a single goal, had two clear chances to equalise and took neither. The match turned on those two moments. From there the home side lost their shape, and Santa Croce — the more experienced team, well set up — converted almost every opportunity that came its way. Ciccio Di Rosa's side, fielding eight under-age players, were undone by that first-half collapse.

Cicero pulled one back for Frigintini early in the second half. Santa Croce finished with ten men after Golisano was sent off late for a foul as the last man. Cavallo, Noukri and Gazzè were booked for Frigintini; Occhipinti and Zarrella for Santa Croce. Alessandro Silvio Danesi of Caltanissetta refereed, assisted by Mattia Casotto of Ragusa and Carlo Lo Porto of Caltanissetta.

Attention now turns to the league. Frigintini travel to the "Pappe Tricoli" in Sommatino on Sunday 4 October at 15:30 to face Sommatinese on the second matchday of Girone D of the Promozione. Both clubs arrive from Coppa Italia elimination: Sommatinese were knocked out by Barrese, having earlier been overwhelmed by Serradifalco in their opening league derby. Frigintini drew 1-1 with Pro Ragusa in their own derby opener. Sommatinese will play at home in the league for the first time, on a dirt pitch, with a young squad.