With great heart, Monza came back from 0-2 to 2-2 in Mantova, but at 95’ Benaissa scored the 3-2 winner, dealing a cruel blow to the Brianza side on matchday 37 of Serie BKT.
The first chance of the match went to Monza, with Cutrone advancing and shooting after less than a minute: Bardi saved. The hosts responded immediately with a move by former player Marras, who struck poorly with his right foot. The game was intense from the start, with the home side playing with pride in their final home match of the season. At 9’ the other former player Mancuso took aim and fired a right-footed shot that went wide. Monza controlled possession patiently and at 14’ nearly took the lead with a first-time left-footed strike from Pessina, which Bardi tipped over for a corner. It was an entertaining match, and at 19’ Mancuso tested Thiam with a close-range right-footed effort, though he was offside. Mantova took the lead at 23’ with a placed left-footed shot from Kouda into the corner after Thiam had saved from Marras. Monza reacted and at 32’ Obiang appealed for a penalty after a hard challenge by Ruocco in the box, but for referee Sacchi everything was fair. The protests from Bianco’s team were in vain. Mantova played with confidence and doubled their lead at 36’ through captain Mancuso, who made it 2-0 with a low right-footed shot at the near post. Monza responded immediately at 38’ with Petagna’s header from a corner, but the home defense cleared. The visitors kept pushing and came close to scoring with Obiang: at 44’ his shot was parried by Bardi, and then Castellini made a miraculous goal-line clearance. Mantova went into halftime leading 2-0.
The second half began with Monza on the attack and at 47’ Delli Carri nearly scored with a diving header from a cross by Cutrone. A huge chance for the visitors, who kept pressing. At 53’ Colpani tried from a free kick, but his left-footed effort didn’t dip enough. Bianco made a triple substitution at 56’, bringing on Bakoune, Hernani and Caso. Mantova struggled but looked to hit on the counter, as at 62’ when Castellini’s left-footed diagonal shot went just wide. A minute later, Marras, though in a doubtful position, shot poorly in front of Thiam. Bianco made a fourth substitution at 65’, introducing Dany Mota. Monza also tried from distance, with Hernani firing a powerful right-footed shot at 66’ that went over. The match became thrilling with continuous end-to-end action. Mancuso nearly grabbed a brace on the counter, but Thiam saved his shot. At 68’ Hernani tried again from a free kick and this time struck a powerful shot that hit the crossbar; Petagna followed up, but Cella cleared off the line. Monza deserved a goal but couldn’t find it even at 69’, when Cutrone’s turning shot narrowly missed the near post. Mantova held on and at 72’ broke forward with Trimboli, whose low left-footed shot narrowly missed the corner.
Monza refused to give up and at 78’ pulled one back with Lucchesi’s first goal in biancorosso, heading in from close range after Ravanelli had hit another crossbar. It was the team’s 20th different scorer of the season. Bianco’s side believed, and after so much bad luck, they finally got the deserved 2–1. A dramatic finale followed. At 85’ Caso tested Bardi with a left-footed shot that the keeper held. A minute later, Mantova hit the crossbar through substitute Paoletti. Monza kept believing and found the equalizer at 89’: from Hernani’s free kick, Dany Mota got a touch and celebrated his crucial return to scoring, his fifth league goal. The Monza bench erupted and urged the team forward in search of a winner. The visitors pushed hard, laying siege to Mantova’s box. At 94’ Bakoune had the chance to make it 2-3, but Bardi produced an incredible save. That proved to be the turning point, because at 95’ on the counterattack, Fahem Benaissa went through one-on-one with Thiam and beat him with a delicate chip. Mantova thus won 3-2, punishing a very spirited Monza side.
Monza will return to action on Friday, May 8th at 8:30 PM against Empoli at the U-Power Stadium in the final matchday of the regular season.
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