Cesena salvage late draw against Sassuolo

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:25 am
Cesena celebrate at the end of the match.
Mario Carlini/Iguana Press/Getty Images

Simone Zaza put Sassuolo ahead with a controversial late penalty which was seen by only one half of the stadium as the fog thickened in Emilia-Romagna, but it was the other half of the stadium which witnessed Ze Eduardo's first ever goal in Serie A with practically the last touch of the game.

It denied Eusebio Di Francesco's men a fifth win of the season and first since November 29, but still leaves Cesena without a win since the opening day of the season and stuck inside the bottom three.

Next up for them are Napoli on January 6, when Sassuolo pay AC Milan a visit.

The fog was already in the air when the match kicked off in Reggio Emilia, but it did not appear to blur Cesena's vision as they focused on their objective of picking up a first win in almost four months.

Hugo Almeida deflected an early effort just over before Sassuolo finally got the measure of their opponents and the conditions, going close through Antonio Floro Flores on the half-hour mark.

The hosts ended the first half brightly with Floro Flores' headed pushed out by Nicola Leali with Zaza failing to turn in the rebound from close range.

As the fog worsened, Sassuolo were gifted the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot.

Sime Vrsaljko made the most of the lack of perfect vision, taking a tumble after entering the penalty area and the referee fell for it, punishing Hordur Magnusson for what seemed an innocuous challenge.

Zaza was thus able to celebrate his fifth goal of the season and third in as many games.

Cesena responded well and Alberto Pomini had to make a magnificent save to prevent Gregoire Defrel from levelling in the last minute, but he was beaten in stoppage time when Ze Eduardo met Defrel's cross to head in a deserved equaliser at the death for Domenico Di Carlo's men.