The Grigiorossi stay perfect thanks to a stoppage-time penalty from De Luca. Terracciano and Vazquez scored in the first half, Pinamonti and Berardi pulled Sassuolo level, before the late winner set off wild celebrations.
Cremonese are top of the table, at least for a night. At the Stadio Zini, Davide Nicola’s side earned their second straight win, edging Sassuolo 3-2 in a dramatic clash between newly-promoted teams. After a brilliant first half capped by goals from Terracciano and Vazquez, Cremonese nearly let it slip, allowing Sassuolo back into the game with strikes from Pinamonti and a Berardi penalty. But in stoppage time, substitute Floriani Mussolini made the difference, winning a decisive penalty that De Luca coolly converted to seal the victory.
The breakthrough came in the 37th minute when Vandeputte’s corner found Terracciano, who headed in to make it 1-0. Just a minute later, Zerbin pounced on a loose ball and fed Sanabria, whose effort was deflected into the net by Vazquez for the second. Sassuolo responded with a furious push: Berardi’s free kick forced a superb save from Audero, and Pinamonti smashed a shot off the crossbar.
In the second half, Sanabria squandered a golden chance for Cremonese, and Sassuolo took advantage. Volpato set up Pinamonti to pull one back, then an Audero mistake handed the visitors a penalty that Berardi buried for 2-2.
The closing stages were chaotic. Floriani Mussolini first set up a chance for Okereke that was waved off, then at the death forced a foul in the box. De Luca stepped up and scored the winner from the spot in the 93rd minute, sending Cremonese fans into raptures. With six points from two matches, Nicola’s side are flying high.
Match Report
CREMONESE (3-5-2): Audero; Terracciano, Baschirotto, Bianchetti; Zerbin (36’ Floriani Mussolini), Collocolo, Bondo (66’ Grassi), Vandeputte (73’ Payero), Pezzella; Vazquez (73’ Okereke), Sanabria (81’ De Luca).
Subs not used: Silvestri, Nava, Valoti, Sernicola, Ceccherini, Lordkipanidze, Folino.
Coach: Nicola.
SASSUOLO (4-3-3): Muric; Walukiewicz, Idzes, Muharemovic, Doig (46’ Candè); Vranckx (68’ Lipani), Matic (81’ Iannoni), Boloca (46’ Volpato); Berardi, Pinamonti, Laurienté (68’ Fadera).
Subs not used: Satalino, Turati, Zacchi, Ghion, Pieragnolo, Paz, Romagna, Moro, Pierini.
Coach: Grosso.
Referee: Guida (Torre Annunziata).
Goals: 37’ Terracciano (C), 38’ Vazquez (C), 63’ Pinamonti (S), 73’ Berardi (S, pen.), 90+3’ De Luca (C, pen.).
Notes: Attendance 10,311. Booked: Sanabria, Doig, Grassi, Iannoni. Corner kicks 5-4 Cremonese. Added time: 1’ + 5’.
