Cesena were 1-0 winners over Udinese at the Dino Manuzzi stadium in their Sunday afternoon Serie A match.
A late goal from Alejandro Rodriguez settled the tie giving Cesena the hope of avoiding relegation from the top flight.
The first chance of the game came for the visitors, when Cyril Thereau broke on the counter and tried to find Antonio Di Natale in the box, but his pass couldn’t reach the Italian. The hosts came close next when Franco Brienza’s cross into the box was cleared away desperately by Giovanni Pasquale, denying Carlos Carbonero a clear sight of goal.
Cesena continued to pressure Orestis Karnezis in the Udinese goal, when Gaby Mudingayi rose highest in a dangerous position, but only managed to direct his header over the bar. A foul from Molla Wague presented a good opportunity to flood the Udinese box, but Brienza’s lobbed pass was smothered by Karnezis. Gregoire Defrel rounded off the attempts with a curling effort just before half time, but again the Greek goalkeeper was there to keep the match scoreless.
The hosts suffered one brief scare before the half time whistle was blown, an Udinese corner was seemingly dealt with by the home side, but the ball slipped through Nicola Leali’s grip and out for another corner. Fortunately nothing came of the resultant corner and both sides ended the half without a goal.
Domenico Di Carlo’s team continued their assault on the Udinese goal into the second half, with Milan Duric presented a good opportunity to find the net, but sent his shot high and wide of the target. At the other end, Di Natale had his second sight of goal, but blazed his shot wide from an acute angle on the edge of the area.
Having dominated the game, Cesena did take the lead through substitute Alejandro Rodriguez. The striker headed home his fourth goal of the season from a tight angle, denying Karnezis the clean sheet he’d been so desperately battling for.
Andrea Stramaccioni’s side nearly restored parity instantly when Emmanuel Badu surged forward, but his shot was well saved by Leali. Cesena looked to ease the tension by adding a second, Carbonero slicing his effort wide, before having a second attempt blocked on the edge of the area. The Zebrette continued to bombard Leali’s goal, but to no avail and the home side were free to celebrate only their fourth win of the season.
The result will be a disappointment for Stramaccioni’s men as they didn’t put Cesena under any great pressure, however it doesn’t drastically effect their league standing either. Di Carlo’s team move with in a point of fellow relegation battlers Cagliari, with a miracle needed to save them from the drop.
