Chievo continue with impressive start

Pescara wasted several good chances and were caught out by two late Chievo counter-attacks at the Stadio Adriatico.

Despite a 2-0 defeat to Napoli last week, Chievo were still in joint third place with the likes of Roma, Lazio and Milan. Fabrizio Cacciatore was the only injury absentee, while the hosts missed Jean-Christophe Bahebeck, Norbert Gyomber, Simone Pepe and suspended Francesco Zampano.

Pescara were struggling badly on Birsa’s set plays and Spolli’s header at the back post whistled just wide, but had a great chance on 14 minutes when Rey Manaj let Valerio Verre’s pass bounce and smacked the half-volley, forcing Stefano Sorrentino to acrobatically tip over the bar from a tight angle.

That early scare seemed to wake the Delfini up, with Levian Memushaj’s solo effort inches away from both the far top corner and Manaj’s potential tap-in.

Roberto Inglese hit the sidenetting from another Pescara error in possession and the Chievo defence twice struggled to clear a Cristiano Biraghi pullback from the left.

Biraghi’s stunning volley was deflected over the bar from the edge of the box, but a curious statistic repeated itself. In both previous Serie A meetings, Chievo won 2-0 with goals scored in the final 15 minutes.

Right on time, Riccardo Meggiorini sprung the offside trap by hooking a splendid Birsa ball over the top and dragging it round the goalkeeper to deposit into an empty net. It was the first goal scored by a Chievo striker this season and ended Meggiorini’s 11-round drought.

Pescara poured forward to get back on level terms, but were caught out on the counter by Meggiorini during one of their own corners, as Inglese went clear on Castro’s pass to prod the finish past the on-rushing Albano Bizzarri.