Cesena were held to a 1-1 draw by Hellas Verona at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi on Monday evening in Serie A.
Juanito Gomez’s header 13 minutes from time cancelled out a first half effort from Gregoire Defrel.
The Cavallucci Marini have had the fewest shots compared than any other Serie A side so far this season, but captain Giuseppe De Feudis had the first chance of the match firing over at the edge of the penalty area.
Verona defender Frederik Sorensen then denied Emmanuel Cascione from nearly getting on the end of a dangerous Gregoire Defrel cross at the back post in the opening quarter of the match.
The hosts made their early pressure count by taking the lead on 22 minutes as Hugo Almeida, making his first start since joining as a free agent, headed a long ball by Cascione back for Defrel, who took a touch before his left foot half volley found the corner of the net.
The 23-year-old’s second goal of the season was Cesena’s first from open play since Davide Succi’s close-range strike in the 1-1 draw with AC Milan on September 28.
Verona looked to impose themselves physically in the first half but struggled to create many chances of note with their best moment coming after half an hour with Nene heading wide at the near post from a cross by left back Davide Brivio.
The Mastini have recovered more points in the second half than any other side in Serie A so far this season, but Nene was unable to score on 52 minutes heading straight at Federico Agliardi from a Panagiotis Tachtsidis free kick.
Verona made a double substitution on 64 minutes introducing Mounir Obbadi and Lazaros Christodoulopoulos for Artur Ionita and Nico Lopez, while Luka Krajnc replaced Stefano Lucchini for Cesena.
Andrea Mandorlini then made a final attacking change as Verona pressed for an equaliser sacrificing midfielder Emil Hallfredsson for Luca Toni.
An injury to right back Sorensen left the Gialloblu down to ten men, but their second half dominance finally paid off as a long diagonal by Tachtsidis found Gomez at the back post to score his first goal of the season with a looping header.
Nine of Verona’s eleven goals in Serie A this season have come in the second half of games.
Cesena nearly found a winning goal in the closing moments of the match but substitute Milan Djuric headed straight at Rafael from close range and the goalkeeper then saved another header by Cascione.
