Cremonese wasted a two-goal comeback against Sassuolo, seeing January signing Nedim Bajrami score a late winner in the Neroverdi’s 3-2 win at the Mapei Stadium.
The Grigiorossi were looking for their second consecutive win following last week’s victory against José Mourinho’s Roma, but the hosts had a strong start with Andrea Pinamonti and Gregoire Defrel in the starting XI.
Marco Carnesecchi produced a save on the former Inter and Empoli striker, but conceded the opening goal from Armand Laurienté who converted a free kick from the edge of the box at minute 26.
Cremonese reacted with Frank Tsadjout who pounced on a corner kick but hit the post with a header.
It was shortly before Sassuolo doubled their lead through Davide Frattesi. The Italian received the ball inside the box from Laurienté and beat Carnesecchi from point-blank range at the far post.
Davide Dionisi’s side looked in control and had a few chances to stretch their lead. Frattesi sent a long-range shot over the bar before the break while Carnesecchi denied Defrel in the second half with a full-stretch fingertip that saw the ball hit the woodwork.
Cremonese continued to play long balls and their tactics eventually paid off as Sassuolo defenders struggled to cope with the Grigiorossi strikers’ physicality.
Tsadjout had another chance but sent a header from inside the box wide. Cremonese pounced back a few minutes later, when Cyriel Dessers won possession close to Sassuolo’s box, making the most of a wrong Ruan pass and finding the net at the far post.
Maxime Lopez produced a goal-line clearance avoiding Cremonese’s equaliser which materialised at minute 83 with another long ball. Former Feyenoord forward Dessers pounced on the ball and rounded Consigli putting the ball inside an empty net.
With six minutes of adding time, Sassuolo somehow managed to score the winner through former Empoli midfielder Bajrami who received a perfectly-timed trivela pass from Laurienté and found the net with a powerful right-foot finish and only four minutes left to play.
Sassuolo 3-2 Cremonese
Goals: 26′ Laurienté (S), 42′ Frattesi (S), 62′ e 84′ Dessers (C), 90′ + 2′ Bajrami (S)
Sassuolo (4-3-3): Consigli (C), Rogerio, Tressoldi, Erlic, Zortea, Henrique (88′ Harroui), Lopez (82′ Obiang), Frattesi (68′ Bajrami), Laurienté, Pinamonti (82′ Alvarez), Defrel (68′ Thorstvedt).
Cremonese (3-4-3): Carnesecchi, Vasquez, Chiriches (33′ Lochoshvili), Bianchetti (C), Valeri, Benassi, Pickel, Sernicola, Okereke (66′ Buonaiuto), Tsadjout (66′ Ciofani), Afena-Gyan (46′ Dessers).