Serie A

Serie A | Como 1-1 Venezia: Last gasp penalty holds Fabregas

March 8, 2025

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Serie A | Como 1-1 Venezia: Last gasp penalty holds Fabregas

epa11949382 Como’s Alberto Dossena (R) and Venezia’s Christian Gytkjaer in action during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Como 1909 and Venezia FC, in Como, Italy, 08 March 2025. EPA-EFE/Daniel Dal Zennaro

Venezia extended their unbeaten run to three games thanks to a last-gasp Christian Gytkjaer penalty after Jonathan Ikone had put Cesc Fabregas and Como in front.

The Lariani saw their run of back-to-back victories ended by a 2-1 defeat at Roma, with Marc Oliver Kempf and Mergim Vojvoda suspended here, plus Sergi Roberto and Ivan Azon injured. The Lagunari missed Marin Sverko, Michael Svoboda, Richie Sagrado and Filip Stankovic after two impressive 0-0 draws with Lazio and Atalanta, but remained in penultimate place.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Como had a huge opportunity on 22 minutes when Ivan Smolcic got a looping header on the Lucas Da Cunha corner, as Ionut Radu acrobatically fingertipped it onto the far post.

Jean Butez stuck out a boot to parry the Alessio Zerbin angled drive at the near post, but the Como goalkeeper made two sensational saves in 20 seconds, first on the Alfred Duncan swerving volley, then the same midfielder’s header on the resulting corner.

Nico Paz also drilled inches wide at the other end, but Butez was stranded when chasing Duncan to the by-line and lucky to see the Mirko Maric effort over an empty net.

COMO, ITALY - MARCH 08: Jonathan Ikone of Como 1907 celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Serie A match between Como and Venezia at Stadio G. Sinigaglia on March 08, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images) — COMO, ITALY – MARCH 08: Jonathan Ikone of Como 1907 celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Como and Venezia at Stadio G. Sinigaglia on March 08, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

Cesc Fabregas made a double substitution at half-time and it paid off immediately, as Jonathan Ikone robbed an opponent in midfield, saw his through ball intercepted by Hans Nicolussi Caviglia, but it bounced back into his path and he drilled through a sea of legs into the bottom corner.

This goal ended a run of two consecutive clean sheets for Venezia. Radu kept his men in the game with a sensational double save on a corner, first from Ikone and then the Edoardo Goldaniga header from point-blank range.

Deep into stoppages, Smolcic clumsily clattered into Franco Carboni for a penalty. Gytkjaer kept his cool to convert into the roof of the net with the last kick of the game for a third consecutive Venezia draw.