Bianconeri fall late at Sassuolo | OneFootball

The Men’s First Team came out on the wrong side of a five-goal game away in Reggio Emilia, with Sassuolo scoring a late, late winner on Serie A Matchday 4.

Edon Zhegrova scored two second-half equalisers, cancelling out goals from Sebastiano Esposito and Kieron Bowie, but Vasilije Adzic scored with the very last kick of the game to send the Bianconeri back home empty-handed.

THE MATCH REPORT

It was a lively start in Reggio Emilia, where after Domenico Berardi had ventured forward for the hosts, Nico Gonzalez went within inches of a second-minute opener, with his long-range shot kissing the crossbar on its way over. 

With Berardi continuing to sniff around and look to cause problems, he pounced on a loose pass from Francisco Conceicao, but Jhon Lucumi was just as alert to the danger and was able to get across and eliminate the threat.

The first clear chance fell our way with half an hour on the clock, and it came after good pressing from Conceicao won the ball back high up the pitch. Having exchanged passes and made it to the box, he teed up Teun Koopmeiners on the edge of the area, but the Dutchman’s effort was hit tamely central and stopped by Arijanet Muric.

Josh Doig got in behind just minutes later on the left. Cutting in, though, he opted to shoot from a tight angle and found the side netting. With the Scot possibly tired, Conceicao ran at him seconds later and got to the byline, but his cutback was cleared by the hosts. 

Guglielmo Vicario was almost called into action then with Sebastiano Esposito taking aim, but the Sassuolo forward’s attempt went just wide of the post.

Kerim Alajbegovic tried to do on the left what Conceicao had been doing on the right, but Muric was able to get down and smother the ball at his feet after he had cut into the box and neared goal.

Chico continued to pose the biggest threat on the right. He again got into a dangerous area with his directness, but his cross towards Randal Kolo Muani was deflected away. Moments later, he drove a shot from outside the box that Muric caught well.

Straight after the restart, Alajbegovic sought to make something happen, but again Muric was reactive and turned his effort behind for a corner.

With Lloyd Kelly having come on for Lucumi at the break, Luciano Spalletti again turned to his bench on the hour mark to bring on Nick Woltemade and Edon Zhegrova in place of Nico Gonzalez and Conceicao.

Zhegrova immediately looked to inject some life into the game, and a nutmeg with one of his very first touches did provide a spark and led to a free-kick being won. 

But the opening goal came at the other end shortly after. Nemanja Matic put Sebastiano Esposito in on goal, and the forward finished past Vicario.

Douglas Costa looked to level things up pretty quickly, shooting from outside the area, but the Brazilian’s effort fizzed wide of the upright.

Spalletti rolled the dice again with 20 minutes to play, bringing on Pape Matar Sarr for Teun Koopmeiners. 

Zeki Celik found a pocket of space but was closed down before getting his shot off cleanly, seeing his effort blocked down for a corner. Looking to turn the key, the Bianconeri had Sassuolo parked in their own box then. 

Zhegrova had another shocked blocked in the area, before in the same attack he crossed for Woltemade who wasn’t able to turn the ball goalwards from a tough position.

His persistence paid in the end. A cross from the left for Kolo Muani ended up finding its way to Zhegrova on the right who, with Muric out of position, did very well to steady himself and calmly finish for the equaliser.

Two more chances then came in quick succession. First it was Alajbegovic to go close, and from the resulting corner Woltemade climbed high but headed downward and wide of goal.

Justin Oboavwoduo came off the bench for Alajbegovic for the final change, but seconds later Kieron Bowie scored the hosts’ second. 

Edon continued to make his presence felt, and he scored a second equaliser immediately.

Then with the game opening up completely, chances were falling at both ends, but Vasilije Adzic decided it in the hosts’ favour with the game’s last kick.

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