Cesc Fabregas’ Como Gets 1st Serie A Win in More than 21 Years

 Como's Cesc Fabregas smiles following the Serie A soccer match between Atalanta and Como at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 24 , 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
Como's Cesc Fabregas smiles following the Serie A soccer match between Atalanta and Como at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 24 , 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
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Cesc Fabregas’ Como Gets 1st Serie A Win in More than 21 Years

 Como's Cesc Fabregas smiles following the Serie A soccer match between Atalanta and Como at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 24 , 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
Como's Cesc Fabregas smiles following the Serie A soccer match between Atalanta and Como at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 24 , 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)

Como got its first Serie A win in more than 21 years as Cesc Fabregas’ team won 3-2 at Atalanta in a rescheduled match on Tuesday.

Delightful second-half goals from Gabriel Strefezza and Alieu Fadera, as well as an own goal from Atalanta defender Sead Kolasinac saw newly promoted Como fight back for its first win in the Italian top flight since May 2003.

It was a third defeat of the season for Atalanta, which drew 0-0 against Arsenal in the Champions League last week.

The match — which was a local derby — was originally meant to take place on Monday night but had to be postponed by 24 hours due to heavy rains in Bergamo and a waterlogged pitch.

Atalanta took the lead in the 18th minute when a corner was headed out but only as far as Davide Zappacosta, who volleyed into the bottom left corner from just outside the area.

However, Como got more into the match and managed to level just 20 seconds into the second half with a well-worked move as Sergi Roberto backheeled a pass from Ignace Van der Brempt into the path of Strefezza and he fired into the far bottom corner.

Como turned things around completely in the 54th minute, albeit with a large slice of fortune when Nicolás Paz’s strike was deflected off Kolasinac to completely wrongfoot Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi.

Things went from bad to worse for the hosts four minutes later as Fadera latched onto a long ball over the top from Paz and turned Atalanta captain Marten de Roon inside out before firing into the far bottom corner.

Ademola Lookman converted a penalty for Atalanta with the last kick of the match after Alberto Dossena had fouled Vanja Vlahović deep in stoppage time.



Saudi Arabia, Argentina Discuss Means to Enhance Football Cooperation

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia, Argentina Discuss Means to Enhance Football Cooperation

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) President Yasser Almisehal met on Wednesday with Argentina’s Ambassador Facundo Vila at the federation’s headquarters in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they discussed means of enhancing cooperation between the Saudi and Argentinean football federations.

The meeting aligns with SAFF’s football transformation strategy launched in September 2021, comprising seven pillars that include strengthening international relations.