Benevento win playoff final to earn first promotion to Serie A

Benevento are headed to Serie A for the first time.
Benevento are headed to Serie A for the first time.
Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

Benevento won promotion to Serie A for the first time in their history on Monday after beating Carpi 1-0 in the second leg of their playoff final.

After a goalless first leg in Carpi, a goal from George Puscas, who is on loan from Inter Milan, in the 33rd minute of Thursday's return meeting settled the contest in Benevento's favour as he redirected a cross.

Benevento could have won even with another draw, since it finished ahead of Carpi in the standings.

The Campania-based club, who had never even played in Serie B before this season, have now won back-to-back promotions and join SPAL and Hellas Verona in going up.

Benevento beat Spezia and Perugia in the previous rounds of the playoffs after finishing the regular season in fifth place in Serie B.