Cesena will return to Serie A following a two year absence having triumphed over Latina in their two legged play-off final.
A brace of headed goals from Massimo Volta and Guido Marilungo either side of half time had given Cesena a commanding lead during the first leg, but a late strike from Yuri Cisotti meant Latina came into the second leg with hopes of turning the tie around.
A victory by one goal would have been enough to see the Laziale through by virtue of their higher league placing during the regular season, and such an outcome looked a very real possibility 13 minutes in when Alessandro Bruno sent a stunning long range volley beyond the reach of Cesena keeper Achile Coser and into the top corner.
The Cavallucci Marini rallied however, and once again seized the advantage in the tie seven minutes into the second half when Andre Defrel stabbed the ball home having been found at the back post by Marilungo’s low cross.
A late goal still would have swung it in the home side’s favour, but their dreams of a maiden Serie A campaign were shattered in the fourth minute of added time when Karim Laribi brought down Marilungo on the edge of the box, with Emmanuel Cascione sweeping home the ensuing spot kick to seal Cesena’s promotion.
Given Latina came into this campaign as Serie B debutants, few could have expected them to come to within 90 minutes of reaching the top flight, and for that the Laziale should look back on a miraculous season with their heads held high.
A play-off final defeat can prove a devastating blow that is difficult to recover from though, and Latina need only look at the cautionary tale of Novara – relegated this season after similar heartache a year ago – to see how quickly things can unravel. Whether or not the. Laziale tread the same path remains to be seen.
As for Cesena, a first Serie A campaign in two years awaits, and it is to be hoped that it will be a marked improvement on the previous one, which saw the side record just four wins and finish 20 points adrift of safety.
Such concerns can be put on hold for now though. Pierpaolo Bisoli’s achievements in steering the club away from relegation danger last term before masterminding this season’s promotion cannot be understated, and the celebratory air will no doubt continue beyond this summer, and justifiably so.
