Ferrari Scores First Goal For Perugia

American striker Gabe Ferrari, on loan from Sampdoria, scored his first goal for Perugia last week in Serie C (Lega Pro) action.

In the match against a pesky Pistoise side, Ferrari scored in the 44th minute by converting a low bouncing free kick with a sneaky back heel. He also had two shots go just wide of goal in the Grifoni’s 3-2 win.

Check out the action here (look for his goal at the 2:01 mark of the video).

This strong performance should earn Ferrari some increased playing time, starting with today’s match against Arezzo. Perugia is currently in 9th place in Serie C1 with 36 points, 15 shy of a chance for promotion to Serie B.

Bernardo Loan Deal Drawing Closer

SSC Napoli primavera striker Vincenzo Bernardo appears even closer to a loan deal for the second half of the season.

The new twist, as he told LFV, is that instead of possibly going to a Serie C side, there is a good chance the 18 year-old New Jersey native could end up in Serie B.

We’ll find out more in the coming weeks as he and his agent consider options, bearing in mind their priority to find a club where he can play every week – but also one which will support any possible callups for US U-20 World Championship qualifiers. Stay tuned.

Speaking of Serie B, American Danny Szetela and his Brescia team were snowed out of their match with Sassuolo which will be rescheduled for January 27th. Brescia has been tinkering with a 4-3-3 formation which may leave Szetela as the odd man out. We’ll find out more this weekend in their match against Pisa. Meanwhile, in Serie C action, Gabe Ferrari and his Perugia team will be looking for three points in today’s road match at Benevento.

In other news, Carlos Bocanagra went the full 90 for Rennes as they vaulted themselves into second place (at least for today) with a 1-0 home win over upstart Grenoble. Freddy Adu did not dress for AS Monaco’s 2-1 loss to FC Nantes. And, rounding out the Americans in southern Europe, Jozy Altidore did not play in Villarreal’s 3-3 draw with Valencia. A late penalty by Villarreal’s other New Jersey native, Giuseppe Rossi, saved the point for the Yellow Submarine.