Cesena wins in the long night of Cosenza: now for the playoffs a draw in Modena will be enough

Cesena, May 9, 2025 – Mission accomplished. Cesena wins in Cosenza and takes back eighth place, the last one to play the playoffs, taking advantage of Bari's defeat in Cittadella. Now a draw in the Modena derby will be enough to get the pass. An ugly, fragmented, endless match due to the mileage recoveries required by a thousand inconveniences that occurred to Marulla on and off the pitch.

In Cesena Russo is out, the only injured player after the last-minute recovery of La Gumina and Tavsan who start from the bench. Francesconi immediately on the field in place of Berti, the defense returns with its usual face, the surprise is in attack with Bastoni next to Shpendi.

Seahorse in pink (the third peach-colored uniform) and on the shoulders the first names of the players' mothers, in homage to Mother's Day. Few close friends at Gigi Marulla, the arithmetic relegation of Cosenza and the protest against the ownership weigh heavily while the approximately one hundred Juventus fans present make themselves heard despite the very long away trip. The local coach Alvini has not given space to the second lines as hypothesized on the eve, he plays with the starting lineup despite complaining of half a dozen defections due to injuries and suspensions.

An endless night. Just two minutes of play pass and referee Prontera is forced to interrupt the match due to firecrackers, flares and objects being thrown onto the pitch by Calabrian fans from outside the stadium. When play resumes, Cesena takes the lead: Calò's corner, a ping pong in the area with a shin touch by Shpendi , the Calabrian defence fails to parry, Bastoni sends it grazing the post behind Micai for his fourth goal in the championship.

New rockets on the field and Prontera suspends the match again. Surreal atmosphere at Marulla. Useless to search for rhythm and maneuvers with concentration interrupted by facts that have nothing to do with football. Cosenza seems disarmed, but Artistico calls Klinsmann to a difficult save in a twist from outside the area (39') in what remains the only shot on goal of Alvini's team. Recovery time long 9 minutes with sterile ball possession of the locals and Cesena in difficulty. At the beginning of the second half Antonucci after a laborious change of socks replaces Bastoni to support a very isolated Shpendi. The atmosphere changes, Cosenza takes the field, the Romagnoli retreat, but Klinsmann does not run any big risks with the exception of the only incursion of Rizzo Pinna who from the edge of the area grazes the post.

The scoreboard

COSENZA 0

CESENA 1

COSENZA (3-4-2-1): Micai (12' st Vettorel); Sgarbi, Hristov, Dalle Mura; Cimino (12' st Ciervo), Kourfakidis (33' st Cruz), Gargiulo, Ricci (22' st D'Orazio); Kouan, Rizzo Pinna; Artistico (12' st Novello). Subs: Baldi, Caporale, Venturi, Ricciardi, Charlys, Contiero, Fumagalli. Coach: Alvini.

CESENA (3-4-2-1): Klinsmann; Ciofi, Prestia, Mangraviti; Ceesay (43' st Donnarumma), Calò (27' st Mendicino), Francesconi, Celia; Saric (20' st Berti), Bastoni (1' st Antonucci); Shpendi (43' st Tavsan). Subs: Pisseri, Siano, Pieraccini, Piacentini, Adamo, La Gumina, Coveri. Coach: Mignani.

Referee: Prontera from Bologna.

Network: 12' pt Bastoni.

Notes: Saric, Sgarbi, Francesconi cautioned; spectators approximately 600; corners 5 to 2 for Cosenza; added time 9' and 5'.