What a turn of events! Verona was already down by three goals against Venice, but finally won

An even bigger trap than the one once named by the legendary Czech coach Josef Csaplár. Csaplár’s trap, a situation that the coach himself defined, refers to the moment when one team is leading 2-0 at half-time, thinks it is in control of the match, and loses concentration, allowing the other team to equalise or turn the match around. Something similar happened during this weekend’s Italian Serie A round of 16 match between home side Venice and away side Verona.

Hellas Verona came to nearby Venice as the favourite. Due to illness, unfortunately, this time without Czech player Antonín Barák. However, the predictions of the bookmakers soon started to come true. The newcomer from Venice opened the scoring already in the 12th minute when, after a centre, Henry put the ball in front of the goal where defender Ceccaroni found himself with no problem.

The next strike came seven minutes later when a breakaway situation was well dealt with by assisting Johnsen and finishing midfielder Domen Crnigoj. A cruel quarter of an hour for Verona was completed in the next nine minutes, when in the 27th minute, after an incomprehensible miscommunication between defender Dawidowicz and goalkeeper Montip, home striker Thomas Henry took advantage of the visitors’ hesitation, 3: 0 for Venice.

As the match started to unfold in an unexpected way in the first half, the tables began to turn in the second half. Venice, and especially Verona, took Czech coach Csaplár’s notion of football to the next level on Sunday afternoon. The fact that Verona’s turnaround was defacto started by the recent heroes of the first half added to the paradox of the situation.

While defending a corner kick in the 52nd minute, the ball was awkwardly crossed by striker Henry and Argentine goalkeeper Romero fared no better, eventually knocking the ball into the net.

In the 63rd minute, Ceccaroni, another first-half goal scorer, made another hand save on the goal line. He was rewarded with nothing but a red card and a penalty kick for Verona, which was converted by Caprari.

And two minutes later it was level. Giovanni Simeone took advantage of the confusion in the Venetian defence and cleverly outmuscled the onrushing goalkeeper. In the 85th minute, the son of the famous coach even completed a spectacular turnaround when he fired a shot from a respectable distance that ended up being cleared off the crossbar. Csaplár’s trap worked once again.

Source: Serie A