STRUGGLING ASCOLI SMASH WOEFUL BARCA

A first win in eight matches for Elise Morello’s Ascoli side allows them to breathe a little easier after they dismantled visiting Barcelona to move four points clear of the relegation spots as the season rolls into its final third.

Barca themselves drop back into the danger zone following the defeat.

Three first half goals killed off the tie, and a second for ex-San Lorenzo youth striker Diamaro midway through the second half sealed an important win for the Italians in a crucial six-pointer.

Diamaro opened the scoring just before the half hour with an angled shot from Grumo’s square pass, before provider turned goal scorer a few minutes later as Grumo powerfully headed in Goodrington’s corner.

Goodrington smashed in a third from close range after Barca failed to clear Lonero’s looped cross, and Diamaro clipped in a fourth to compound the Catalan’s misery in the second half, having left his marker for dead for a neat turn.

Morello was visibly pleased with her side’s performance and result after the match, and will be looking to use them as a platform to rescue Ascoli’s ailing season:

‘This is a cracking result for us, and three points we really needed. We had to put a stop to the disastrous run we were on, and to do it in such style, and against Barcelona, will be a huge boost for the club and the fans. I did a bit of tinkering with the line-up and seems to have paid off. We need to push on from here, however. If we go on and lose our next three matches then this result means little. We’re in the final portion of the season and the next ten games are extremely important.’

Ascoli host fifth place Vitoria Setubal tonight.

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