© EuroFootball.com
Seven-time Italian champion club, after a break of three seasons, returns to the country's highest league - on Sunday in the promotional play-offs for a spot in Serie A, in the second leg match, the Turin team defeated "Mantova" after extra time in front of 60,000 spectators and despite the tied overall score, overcame the opponents for a better position in the tournament table.
Both teams had defeated their opponents - "Modena" and "Cesena" clubs in a sort of semifinal, and fought for promotion in the final. In the first away game, "Torino" had lost 4-2, so in the second leg match they needed to win by a two-goal margin at their home stadium, and they did it during the regular time - in the 36th minute Alessandro Rosina converted a penalty, and veteran Roberto Muzzi scored in the 63rd minute.
Since away goals do not count in these matches, extra time was played, and even though the hosts' player Davide Nicola scored in the 94th minute, the visitors' forward responded with a precise shot from the penalty spot, resulting in no changes. This meant that "Torino" won the ticket to Serie A, finishing third in the final league table, higher than "Mantova".
Last season, "Torino" also won the right to play in Serie A after additional matches, but they did not have such an opportunity, as the club went bankrupt. The other two spots in the top league of the next season were already secured by the strongest Serie B teams "Atalanta" and "Catania".
Meanwhile, the additional match for relegation ended unsuccessfully for the club where the Lithuanian Tomas Danilevičius played well this season. In the first match against "Albinoleffe" on a neutral ground, "Avellino" lost 0-2, so the away victory of 3-2 was not enough for this team, and they will have to compete in the Serie C1 division next season.
