Sassuolo went down to a heavy 4-1 defeat to Livorno at the Stadio Mapei on Sunday evening.
Innocent Emeghara scored twice for his new club with Leandro Greco and Paulinho also getting on the scoresheet for Davide Nicola’s side. Simone Zaza hit a momentary equaliser for the home side who have now lost their first two games of the season.
The Neroverdi had ex-Inter wide man Ezequiel Schelotto on the bench whilst Livorno gave starts to former Catania midfielder Marco Bigianti as well as striker Emeghara, who performed so admirably for Siena last season.
The home side started the more confident and had much of the early pressure. Simone Zaza almost made the most of a Francesco Bardi error as the young keeper mis-controlled a back pass but managed to scramble the ball away from the onrushing Sassuolo forward.
Two minutes later the Tuscan side had its first look at the Sassuolo goal as Leandro Greco stung the fingertips of Antonio Rosati, the Livorno midfielder striking a low shot across the face of the home side’s goal. Sassuolo continued to dominate the game with their slick passing though they struggled to break down the Amaranto rear guard. On 22 minutes Karim Laribi brushed past 2 defenders on the edge of the area but his angled effort went inches wide.
A rare foray forward gave Brazilian Paulinho a chance to open the scoring for the away side as Greco was brought down just outside the box but his free kick sailed high over the bar.
Despite the Sassuolo possession, Livorno finished the first half the stronger. A Greco corner on 40 minutes flashed across the six yard box, needing the merest of touches to steer it into the net. However, with two minutes remaining of the first period the former Roma player hit a 25 yard free kick over the wall and past the flailing arm of Rosati to score Livorno’s first goal of the new campaign and go into the half time break leading 1-0.
The teams emerged unchanged for second half with Sassuolo again the stronger starter.
Jasmin Kurtic hit a screamer from wide on the right but Bardi was able to fist it clear. On 54 minutes Zaza had a golden opportunity to equalise as he ran through with just the keeper to beat but blasted his shot over the bar.
Two minutes later Zaza again capitalised on a Livorno defensive mistake but Bardi blocked with his legs as the home side piled on the pressure. On 65 minutes the Neroverdi finally got their goal as Zaza converted a cross from Karim Laribi with an angled header past Bardi to make the score 1-1.
But the joy was short lived as moments later Emeghara dribbled into the Sassuolo area from the right hand side, skipped past Emanuele Terranova and his low shot was horribly dealt with by keeper Rosati who appeared to dive early and the ball went over his body and into the net to hand the Amaranto the lead.
Paulinho made matters worse for Eusebio di Francesco on 75 minutes as he beat Reto Ziegler in the air and his run into the box ended with a left foot effort past Rosati for 3-1. Psychologically, the third goal completely deflated Sassuolo and an error allowed Andrea Luci in on goal who was then brought down by Rosati for a penalty.
Emeghara sent the keeper the wrong way and hit his side’s fourth and his second goal of the night.
The match ended 4-1 to Davide Nicola’s men who will be delighted to have gained three points from a direct relegation rival. Sassuolo will now be hoping to use the final transfer day to try and strengthen what appears to be a squad hugely inadequately equipped to battle in Serie A.
