Perugia – Ancona 03/09/2024 Serie C Group B
An all-red and white challenge between Perugia and Ancona which will be played, as a preview of Saturday at the unusual time of 4.45pm, at the “Renato Curi” stadium. After last year’s unfortunate relegation from the cadet tournament, I return to the Umbrian capital again to watch a match between two rival groups of fans, even though the two teams are traveling at different speeds in the standings: Perugia fourth despite the resounding 5-0 achieved by Entella in away, Ancona instead is trying to do everything possible to get out of the playout zone and avoid the dangerous final queue. Although the match exudes a certain charm, not many tickets were sold in advance, paradoxically the Doric supporters responded better and managed to obtain 496 tickets.
With these premises I leave on Saturday morning to arrive in Perugia around lunch time, without missing a tour of the old but still fascinating “Santa Giuliana” stadium, before taking the minimetro to get to the last stop of Pian di Massiano. Last half-stop in a well-known pasta factory in Piazzale Umbria Jazz so as not to disdain the high local gastronomic tradition, finally setting off towards the nearby Umbrian plant.
Another fundamental stop when you arrive at the “Curi”, I say this for those who perhaps have never been there, is at the Perugia Calcio museum where I have personally been several times but where I always return very willingly because it is always constantly changing with the addition of both football and ultras material, so much so that a room inside is entirely dedicated to the Curva Nord.
Once my tour is over, it’s time to focus on today’s challenge, that of the fans. Even though outside you don’t experience the atmosphere of great occasions, the hard core of the various Perugian groups is always present to guard their territory. The arrival of the visiting ultras, however, occurs when there are around forty-five minutes left until kick-off and is announced with the explosion of several paper bombs, with tension invariably rising even among the locals.
Inside the “Renato Curi”, with the open grandstand completely closed to the public, the final figure stands at just over three thousand five hundred units including guests. There’s no point in going around it, for simple spectators the category in which they play changes and how, if we add to this the sky threatening rain, the game is over. Fortunately, once again it is the ultras who shoulder the burden of supporting the team, when they have to roll up their sleeves and make sacrifices. Of course it would have been convenient for them too to have the crutch of sympathizers around them, but those who need to be there are always there and that’s enough: BRIGADE ed ENGRAVED in a more central position, more moved to the right RED ARMY e NUCLEUS.
The Ancona players take their places in the guest sector a few minutes before the start all entering together and singing chants against the Perugians, who in turn welcome them with a sea of whistles. With the teams entering the field and the anthem blaring at full volume, the hosts perform a somewhat distracting display, while on the away side the color is given by a beautiful flag-waving strengthened by a few banners.
In the first part of the match the Ancona ultras seemed to get off to a better start, especially for the intensity as well as the color always guaranteed by the flags in the wind. The people of Perugia take about ten minutes to get fueled and then level out to their usual standards and feel quite good. On both sides there is a lot of clapping to accompany the chants and after a few minutes the banner “DAJE MARCONE!!” appears in the local North. in a secluded position from the groups.
On the pitch, Perugia attacked and won a penalty which Sylla sensationally saved to the joy of the Doric ultras who rejoiced almost as if it were a goal, but the Perugians did not give up and immediately afterwards lit a torch which gave them the right energy to recover from the disappointment of the lack of advantage.
At minute twenty-four, this time the guests display a banner for a missing Neapolitan ultras. Thunderous applause in both corners with the North raising the chorus “Let’s honor the missing ultras”, a parenthesis after which mutual teasing returns in the name of their ancient rivalry.
The cheering match in the stands flows really pleasantly but then Perugia accelerates and in five minutes, from the thirty-fifth to the fortieth, scores two goals with Lisi and immediately after doubles with Paz. The people of Perugia, crazy with joy, rejoice immoderately, starting a chorus to the tune of “Easy lady” by Ivana Spagna which lasts uninterruptedly until rest.
The people of Ancona suffered a small slip-up they try to close the first part with dignity and then, in the second half, give up their pride by starting to cheer again as if nothing had happened. There are moments in which they bring out their voice in an impeccable manner, performing beautiful handclaps throughout the sector, with the flags always in the wind and the high banners further coloring their portion of the stadium, lighting, in the moment of greatest excitement, a torch to embellish the All.
The Umbrians don’t want to be outdone and also support in a compact and continuous manner carrying out an impressive series of clapping to accompany the high volume of the choirs, also lighting torches and a couple of red smoke bombs several times. Many flags and banners among which, in the area ENGRAVED, a couple of Palestinian flags also stand out as a sign of solidarity for the recent resurgence of violence by Israel. In this second fraction you can see the “CIAO BEPPINO” banner and the flag dedicated to the eternal Mimmo Pucciarini, who unfortunately passed away earlier this year.
The match on the pitch ends 2-0 for Perugia with the two teams going under their respective fans receiving quite extemporaneous greetings, after which the two corners still find time to challenge each other with hostile chants. Thus the curtain closes on an always particular challenge, whether it is played in the top series or in the lower categories, demonstrating the validity of two curves with consolidated tradition. For me all that remains is to take the bus back to another match, another adventure and another experience to live.
Marco Gasparri
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