Sassuolo and Cesena played out a dramatic 1-1 draw at the Mapei Stadium on Saturday in Serie A.
Simone Zaza gave the home team the lead after 76 minutes with a goal from the penalty spot, but a final rout by the Cavallucci Marini paid off in the last minute of stoppage time when Ze Eduardo found the back of the net with a header.
Here are Forza Italian Football’s individual player ratings for the match. Agree? Disagree? Comment below.
Sassuolo
Alberto Pomini – 6 – Quality
After silent 85 minutes, he pulled off a miraculous one-hand save on Defrel’s close-range shot. Could do nothing in the situation for Cesena’s goal.
Sime Vrsaljko – 7.5 – Excellent
Neutralised Mazzotta’s attempts to create opportunities in his area while at the same time giving the Cavellucci defence plenty of trouble. Forced the penalty kick that led to Zaza’s goal, but will regret the poor cross late in the game that prevented the Neroverdi from ensuring the win.
Emanuele Terranova – 5.5 – Solid
Quietly did his duties, however he, too, may be blamed for the poor defence that led to the equaliser
Francesco Acerbi – 6 – Arriving
Made some critical clearances to prevent the Cavellucci from putting a shot on goal for most of the match. Had a chance to open the score in the first half after one of a series of corners, but his header was way too weak to bother Leali.
Federico Peluso – 5 – Expectations
Active on the offensive as well as defensive ends. Could possibly have a higher rating had he not been handed a yellow carded for a silly foul in midfield.
Saphir Taider – 4.5 – Awful
I don’t usually use that adjective, but the fact that he wasted multiple clear chances to create at least some danger from the right-hand side defines his performance on the night. Substituted after 70 minutes, perhaps too latb
Francesco Magnanelli – 5 – Present
Average rating for an average performance
Simone Missiroli – 5.5 – Wasteful
The Neroverdi will probably woe the missed chances throughout the match, and Missiroli should take some of the blame, failing to beat Leali on good chances, especially in the first half
Domenico Berardi – 5.5 – Delivery
Had the chance to create chances for his teammates from numerous set pieces, most of them giving Leali problems in front of goal.
Simone Zaza – 6 – Alright
Not his best match and kept relatively quiet by the Cavellucci. Did his job by scoring the penalty, even helped on defence on several occasions
Antonio Floro Flores – 5 – Disappeared
Started the match very well, but lost his impact in the match past the first half-hour.
Substitutes
Nicola Sansone – 4.5 – Irrelevant
Not any better the Floro Flores, who he replaced after 60 minutes
Sergio Floccari – 4 – Anonymous
Another unsuccessful substitute by Eusebio Di Francesco
Davide Biondini – 4 – Zero
He and his colleagues lost the control in midfield completely in the final minuutes of the game and paid for it.
Cesena
Nicola Leali – 8 – Best
Between him and Vrsaljko, but the goalkeeper played a crucial role in his team earning the point. A little hesitant in the air, but outstanding down below. Not the first goalkeeper that Zaza has sent the wrong way, so no blame on that one.
Daniele Capelli – 6 – Good
He did his defensive duties well, including stopping several quick attack before they could create danger.
Stefano Lucchini – 5.5 – Mixed
Improved over the course of the match, the highlight being a clearance off the line early in the second half.
Hordur Magnusson – 4.5 – Poor
Poor clearances in the first half, poor marking for the most part, poor defence against Vrsaljko on the penalty situation.
Luigi Giorgi – 6 – Difference
Quiet performance up until the final minutes, when his runs on the right became the main source of problems for the Sassuolo defence.
Carlos Carbonero – 4.5 – Absent
Fourty-five minutes of nothing significant.
Ze Eduardo – 6.5 – Saviour
Silly fouls and uncoordinated passes in the first half, one of the best players on the pitch in the second. Scored the equaliser to put the cherry on the impressive second-half performance
Antonio Mazzotta – 4.5 – Overshadowed
Could not beat Vrsaljko on the offensive end, could not stop him on the defensive one.
Emmanuel Cascione – 6.5 – Maestro
The heart of Cesena’s attack for most of the match, yet poor play by him in crucial moments wasted good chances to create something more
Gregoire Defrel – 5.5 – Wasteful
The Cavellucci did not have many chances, but he wasted two of the best ones. To his relief, Ze Eduardo found an equaliser that he should have grabbed two minutes earlier.
Hugo Almeida – 5 – Header
Won pretty much every ball coming his way in the air, but did little on the ground.
Substitutes
Franco Brienza – 6 – Impressive
The display in the offensive half would make a statement for a starting spot in the new year.
Alejandro Rodriguez – N/A
Davide Succi – N/A
Was Magnusson’s defence for the penalty poor? It was excellent defending and the line ref got it totally wrong, as you surely can see when you watch it on TV. You are totally out of your depth here, as always. No wonder no-one reads this stupid website.