4pm 15 October 2023
Serie D, Group I
Siracusa Calcio 1924 6 San Luca 1 (att 2,500)
Siracusa is a lovely place and being just 30 minutes drive from our holiday base it was an easy choice for my highest level game while in Sicily.
The biggest challenge, other than finding somewhere to park, was obtaining a ticket. They are sold online, but only in the day or two before the game and by then I had no way to print them.
The club’s Facebook page helpfully listed venues where they could be bought from, including a café near the stadium. I found it, joined a short queue, handed over my passport so my ID could be confirmed, and for 13 euros I had a ticket.
It got me a place on the sun-baked open side of ground, opposite the main stand and a safe distance from the end where the club’s ultras gathered. To be fair they provided a good atmosphere, with non-stop singing, flag waving and the occasional firework.
The opposite end is officially for away fans, but there weren’t any. Whether the journey from the mainland was too tricky or if away supporters are barred I’m unsure, but San Luca’s followers can count themselves fortunate to have missed this.
Their team were woeful. They defended deeply from the start but never looked secure. That they held out for 30 minutes before conceding was a surprise.
Having gone behind they made two substitutions and there was a noticeable switch to a more attacking style. Any hopes that might pay off were dashed by two Siracusa goals in the space of a minute just before half time.
The home side made it 4-0 early in the second half. San Luca got the game’s next goal but it was only a brief respite before Siracusa scored twice more to stay top of one of the nine regionalised divisions that make up the fourth tier of Italian football.
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