Late Drama at the Adriatico: Pescara Salvages Point with Two-Goal Burst

The mathematics of desperation are simple in Serie B: trailing by two goals with 16 minutes remaining, Pescara faced the prospect of slipping further into the relegation mire. Instead, Lorenzo Meazzi and Antonio Di Nardo authored a remarkable comeback Saturday at Stadio Adriatico - Giovanni Cornacchia, delivering a 2-2 draw that felt more like a victory for the home side and a bitter defeat for Carrarese.

The visitors arrived on the Adriatic coast with confidence earned from consecutive strong results, including a commanding 3-0 victory over Juve Stabia a fortnight ago. That assurance manifested immediately when Fabio Abiuso struck just two minutes into the match, catching Pescara's defense still settling into their shape. The early goal established Carrarese's control of the opening proceedings, their tidy possession and patient buildup reflecting a team comfortable in mid-table rather than one scrambling for survival.

Pescara, languishing in 18th place with a meager five points from seven matches, struggled to generate meaningful responses. Their recent form—a brutal 4-1 loss at Sampdoria followed by a narrow draw with Sudtirol—suggested a team still searching for the attacking fluency that produced four goals against Empoli in late September. That match now seemed a distant memory as Pescara's forwards labored through the first half without registering a genuine threat.

The second half began with Carrarese extending their advantage. Luis Hasa, who had found the scoresheet in the rout of Juve Stabia, struck again in the 52nd minute. The goal appeared to vindicate Carrarese's measured approach, with their four draws in seven matches suggesting a team difficult to break down and opportunistic in attack. At 2-0, the visitors controlled not just the scoreline but the tempo, recycling possession with the calm of a side that had earned 10 points and eighth place through disciplined performances.

But Serie B's unforgiving nature cuts both ways. Meazzi, who had scored in Pescara's September flourish against Empoli, reduced the deficit in the 74th minute with a finish that injected urgency into the Adriatico atmosphere. The goal transformed the match's complexion, forcing Carrarese to defend their advantage rather than manage it. Suddenly, the visitors' tendency toward draws—four in seven matches—took on different significance, suggesting not resilience but vulnerability to late pressure.

The climax arrived in the 89th minute. Di Nardo, who had scored a dramatic 90th-minute equalizer against Venezia in September, demonstrated his knack for crucial late goals once more. His finish sent the home supporters into delirium and left Carrarese stunned, their march up the table halted by a team they should have buried.

For Pescara, the two points dropped by Carrarese feel like one gained in their desperate battle to escape the bottom three. With just one victory in seven matches and a goal difference reflecting defensive fragility, this comeback could provide the psychological foundation for improvement. Their previous matches showed glimpses—the Empoli demolition, late equalizers against Venezia and Sudtirol—but consistency has eluded them. Di Nardo's late heroics suggest a team unwilling to accept relegation quietly.

Carrarese's perspective is far bleaker. Having controlled the match for 74 minutes and held a two-goal cushion, surrendering both points represents a significant setback in their push toward the promotion conversation. Their defensive solidity, evident in the clean sheet against Juve Stabia and goalless draw with Modena, evaporated when Pescara pressed forward with nothing to lose. The visitors have now drawn five matches, each representing missed opportunities to close the gap on the top six.

The result leaves Pescara still mired in 18th but with renewed belief that survival remains achievable. For Carrarese, eighth place now feels precarious rather than promising, their inability to close out matches threatening to define their season. In Serie B's relentless grind, two dropped points can mean the difference between promotion dreams and mid-table mediocrity. Saturday at the Adriatico, Carrarese learned that lesson the hardest way possible.