Monza secured their place in the Serie B promotion playoff final with a heart-stopping 2-1 victory over Juve Stabia at the U-Power Stadium, completing a 4-3 aggregate triumph that sent the home crowd into delirium. In a semifinal return leg that seemed destined for extra time, striker Patrick Cutrone emerged as the hero with a dramatic stoppage-time winner just moments after Juve Stabia had snatched a late equalizer.
The first leg in Campania ended 2-2, leaving the tie finely balanced. Monza knew a win of any kind would send them through, and for 85 minutes it appeared as if a single goal might decide the contest. Both sides created chances but defenses held firm, with the tension mounting as the clock ticked toward regulation.
Cutrone broke the deadlock in the 85th minute, pouncing on a loose ball in the box to rifle a low shot past the Juve Stabia goalkeeper. The former Milan and Wolves forward, who has been a talismanic figure for the Biancorossi this season, wheeled away in celebration, seemingly having sealed Monza’s passage to the final.
But Juve Stabia refused to accept defeat. Deep into injury time, Romanian winger Rareș Burnete latched onto a cross and stabbed the ball home, stunning the home faithful and momentarily silencing the Brianteo. With the aggregate score tied at 3-3 and away goals not a factor in these playoffs, extra time loomed.
Monza, however, responded with the resilience that has characterized their campaign under pressure. With the match in the sixth minute of stoppage time, they launched one final foray forward. Cutrone, again in the right place at the right time, met a delivery and guided the ball into the net, sending the stadium into raptures and breaking Juve Stabia hearts.
The whistle blew shortly after, confirming Monza as the first team through to the two-legged final, where they will face the winner of the other semifinal between Palermo and Catanzaro. That tie resumes Wednesday with Catanzaro holding a commanding 3-0 advantage from the first leg in Sicily, making the Calabrians overwhelming favorites to advance.
For Monza, the victory keeps alive the dream of returning to Serie A after their recent relegation. The Lombardy club, under new stewardship, has invested heavily in maintaining a competitive squad. Reaching the final validates that ambition and sets up a high-stakes shootout for a place in the top flight.
Cutrone’s double took his goal tally for the season to 18 in all competitions, underlining his importance to the team. The 28-year-old, who rejoined Monza permanently after a successful loan spell, has found his scoring touch in Serie B and will be central to their hopes in the final. His performance here was a reminder of the instinctive finishing that made him one of Italy’s promising young attackers.
Juve Stabia, meanwhile, exit with their heads held high after a valiant effort. The Campania side, who finished eighth in the regular season, pushed the favorites to the limit and came within seconds of forcing extra time. Their run to the semifinals captured the imagination, and Burnete’s late goal added another dramatic chapter to their playoff story.
With Monza now awaiting their final opponent, the focus shifts to the Stadio Renzo Barbera, where Palermo will need a miracle to overturn Catanzaro’s three-goal lead. The Giallorossi have been dominant throughout the playoffs and look poised to set up an all-Lombardy versus Calabria clash for a spot in Serie A.
The playoff final first leg is scheduled for the weekend of May 23-24, with the return the following week. Monza will be hoping to carry the momentum from this emotional victory into the biggest matches of their season. For Cutrone and his teammates, the journey is far from over, but they have reason to believe.
Based on reporting from Tuttosport.
