Cittadella starting XI (4-3-1-2): Kastrati (GK), Salvi, Perticone, Pavan, Donnarumma, Vita, Branca, Crociata, Antonucci, Ambrosino, Magrassi.

Bench: Manfrin, Felicioli, Del Fabro, Embalo, Mattioli, Carriero, Mastrantonio, Varela, Maistrello, Danzi, Maniero II, Giraudo.

Goals: Vita 28’, Maistrello 82’, Carriero 89’

Benevento starting XI (4-3-1-2): Manfredini (GK), Foulon, Alin Tosca, Leverbe, Veseli, Acampora, Schiattarella, Improta, Ciano, Farias, Pettinari.

Bench: El Kaouakibi, Letizia, Kubica, Karic, Tello, Jureskin, Paleari, Viviani, Carfora, Bonagura, Koutsoupias.

Goals: Pettinari 18’

Benevento are almost guaranteed to go down to the third division, barring a miracle.

The away side managed only two shots on target for the whole match, while Cittadella had 12.

The hosts had an early chance with a header from Andrea Magrassi that was fumbled but ultimately saved by Manfredini.

La Strega broke the deadlock against the run of play from a corner kick. Frederic Veseli’s knock-on header fell to Stefano Pettinari who managed to get a foot to the ball and guide it in.

It took just ten minutes for the hosts to draw level when Alessio Vita capitalised on Manfredini’s poor decision to come out for a cross that ultimately reached Alessandro Salvi.

Salvi cut it back for Vita and the latter slotted it home past scrambling centre back Alin Tosca.

Cittadella broke Benevento hearts in the 82nd minute when a short corner found Simone Branca, who in turn helped it on to Tommy Maistrello with a square pass.

Maistrello made no mistake with a simple side-foot finish from close range.

With just one minute of regular time remaining, Cittadella poured on the misery when Branca stole the ball from Frederic Veseli in the fullback position and crossed it to Giuseppe Carriero inside the edge of the box.

The midfielder took one touch then hit the ball low and hard into the bottom-left post.

Citadella are in 15th on 41 points, two points above Cosenza in the relegation playoff zone.

Benevento are outright bottom and need to win their remaining two games while hoping that SPAL, Perugia and Brescia lose both of theirs.

Watch Serie B live and exclusive on Il Globo TV.