Alessandro Spavone’s pallonetto and Francesco Gioielli’s first of the season were not enough as Sassuolo U19 scored a stoppage time winner to defeat Napoli U19 3-2.
Sassuolo opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Left Back Edoardo Pieragnolo anticipated the pass for Lamine Gningue and immediately countered. Pieragnolo did it all in his own, carrying the ball into the left side of the area and placing a perfect shot into the side netting at the far post.
Lamine, who only joined Napoli on Tuesday, was brought on to replace right wing back Matteo Marchisano, after the midfielder was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle injury.
Napoli equalized in the 34th minute. Benedetto Barba played a long ball over the top to Alessandro Spavone. Goalkeeper Gioele Zacchi challenged but Spavone got to the ball first. The trequartista played a perfect lob over the keeper and into the back of the goal. That was Spavone’s second of the season after scoring against Cesena at the weekend.
Sassuolo went back ahead shortly after the restart, after a costly mistake by Davide Acampa. The wingback attempted a risky dribble at the edge of his own area and was dispossessed by Kevin Bruno. After a slight tug of the shirt by Acampa, Bruno went down in the area and the official pointed to the spot. Sassuolo captain Federico Casolari stepped up to the spot and was stopped by Valerio Boffelli, but the rebound fell kindly to Salim Aboubakar who was first to the ball. The midfielder tapped the ball into the empty goal to put Sassuolo ahead 2-1.
Napoli were not to be outdone, and in the 66th minute Francesco Gioielli scored his first of the season to make the score 2-2. Pasquale Marranzino played a chip pass to Gennaro Iaccarino at the top of the box. He lobbed the ball to Gioielli in the area. The midfielder did really well to take the ball down before rolling a shot past Zacchi from a difficult angle.
Both managers resorted to their benches in an effort to take all three points. Amongst the Sassuolo substitutes was Adrian Cannavaro, son of former Napoli player Paolo.
The Sassuolo changes paid dividends. With the match apparently heading towards a draw, three Sassuolo substitutes combined to put the Neroverdi back on top. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Simone Cinquegrano lobbed the ball into the area. Boffelli made a fine save on Luca Sasanelli’s header but once again Sassuolo were first to the second ball. Flavio Russo head in the rebound to make the score 3-2 as Sassuolo went on to win their second consecutive match.
The Azzurrini will be back in action at the weekend to take on newly promoted Frosinone.
