Ascoli saw off Potenza 3-1 in the Round of 128 of the Italian Cup on Friday evening. The hosts opened the scoring inside the first minute, and though Potenza found a way back late on, the result was never really in doubt.
And here's the thing about that opening goal — G. Selleri buried it at the 1st minute, before Potenza could even set their shape. By then they were camped in the final third, and T. Milanese doubled the lead at 21'. The visitors sat deep and soaked it up, but the deficit was already too steep.
Ascoli held every card for most of the match. G. Gori added a third at 69', and by then the game was effectively over. Potenza did manage a goal at the 90th minute to make it respectable, but it was purely a consolation. Two yellow cards at 52' and 53' suggested the tension was building, but the visitors never threatened to turn things around.
The statistics tell the story of a one-sided contest. Ascoli enjoyed 62 per cent possession and launched 114 attacks compared to Potenza's 76. The home side registered six shots on target against five for the visitors, and their attacking dominance showed in the final scoreline. Potenza's five shots off target versus their five on target suggests they got little from the chances they created.
This result gives Ascoli a way out of their recent slump. They had lost their last two matches — to Lazio and Frosinone — before this victory. Potenza meanwhile will be disappointed, having lost their most recent outing 4-0 to Juve Stabia. The round of 64 awaits, and Ascoli will hope to carry this momentum forward.