Serie B 22/23: Venezia 2-0 Cosenza

Venezia’s resurgent form continued on Sunday afternoon, extending their unbeaten streak to four matches in dispatching Calabrian visitors Cosenza by two goals to nil at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo in Giornata 17 of the 2022/23 Serie B season.

Seizing possession from the start, Venezia poked and prodded in the build-up through the first quarter of an hour, and soon enough they would grab the opening goal on a quick break. In the 18th minute, when Cosenza turned the ball over while trying to pass into Venezia’s final third, Antonio Candela’s clearance found Dennis Johnsen near the center circle, and the counter was on. With Pohjanpalo making an attention-grabbing run to Johnsen’s left, the Norwegian forward was able to slip the ball through to his right for Domen Črnigoj, who got in behind the defense and confidently placed a shot inside the far post to give Venezia the lead.

On Venezia’s current unbeaten streak, all three wins have come after scoring the first goal — a stat that cannot be understated after the team had fallen behind in 10 out of 12 matches to start the season.

The tale of Venezia's developing turnaround under new manager Paolo Vanoli has its heroes. Between the posts, ‘keepers Jesse Joronen and Bruno Bertinato have both protected crucial results with some magnificent saves. At the other end of the pitch, striker Joel Pohjanpalo has been a menace in the box, scoring five goals in four matches coming into the weekend.

But a few players in particular have been reborn under Vanoli, among them Johnsen and Črnigoj who combined for the opening goal. After previously being frozen out of the lineup, Johnsen’s speed and direct play have been a key weapon in recent weeks, with the former Ajax man notching a goal and two assists in the last three rounds, including the latest assist to Črnigoj. Meanwhile, the hard-charging Črnigoj has been unleashed with the freedom to get forward in a new tactical role, and the Slovenian international has now scored three goals in five matches under Vanoli.

And then there’s the form of 21-year-old American midfielder Tanner Tessmann. After being used sparingly over the first few months of the season, Tessmann has now gone the full 90 in four straight matches, and was stellar in the middle of the park against Cosenza.

Venezia would enjoy 57 percent possession through the first half, and ultimately 54 percent possession for the match, with the versatile and physically gifted Tessmann leading the midfield in touches, accurate passes, passes into the final third, and ground and aerial duels won.

Despite keeping up the pressure, Venezia could not break through for an insurance goal until the other side of halftime — and when the opportunity came, it was Tessmann who would provide it.

After losing the ball with too many men committed forward, Cosenza flailed as substitute striker Andrija Novakovich sprang ahead from midfield. Being pulled down as he released a pass to Črnigoj, the referee played advantage as the ball moved forward, only for Črnigoj to be chopped down as well, which earned a free-kick just outside of the box.

Up stepped Tessmann, and the Birmingham, Alabama native would add his name to the scoresheet by blasting an emphatic right-footed curler around the wall and into the top right corner.

It was Tessmann’s first goal in a Venezia shirt, and a deserved reward not only for his blossoming form and all-around performance on the day but his patience and steady work through a challenging season-and-a-half for the team.

With all three points locked up, Venezia will look to extend their unbeaten run to five next Monday night on their trip to Perugia in Giornata 18 of the 2022/23 Serie B season.

Venezia 2-0 Cosenza

Scorers: 18’ Črnigoj, 75’ Tessmann

Venezia (3-5-2): Joronen, Wiśniewski, Modolo (9’ Svoboda), Ceccaroni, Candela, Črnigoj (78’ Cuisance), Tessmann, Andersen (65’ Busio), Zampano, Johnsen, Pohjanpalo (65’ Novakovich)
Subs not used: Bertinato, Mäenpää, Haps, Zabala, St Clair, Fiordilino, Pierini
Manager: Vanoli

Cosenza (4-3-2-1): Marson, Rispoli (76’ Merola), Väisänen, Rigione, La Vardera (83’ Vallocchia), Brescianini (46’ Kornvig), Voca, Florenzi, Brignola, D'Urso (58’ Zilli), Nasti (46’ Larrivey)
Subs not used: Calò, Meroni, Panico, Camigliano, Venturi, Sibide, Matošević
Manager: Viali