Da Cunha penalty gives Como 1-0 win over Venezia

Lucas Da Cunha converted from the spot to give Como a 1-0 win over Venezia at the Sinigaglia, and Cesc Fabregas later commended his team’s defensive discipline after a tight contest. The result gives Como a fourth consecutive league victory, while Venezia suffer a third successive defeat.

The decisive moment came in the 43rd minute. Tasos Douvikas won a penalty, and Da Cunha sent Filip Stankovic the wrong way from the spot. Como led 1-0 at half-time. Earlier, in the 25th minute, Da Cunha had already tested Stankovic with an attempt after a pass back from Kaiki.

Como gradually pinned Venezia back, while the visitors struggled to create danger. In their first approach, Luis Milla handled the ball inside his own area. Douvikas was lively up front and even tried an acrobatic effort, but could not find the target. Venezia made several substitutions without changing the course of the match. Necessity pushed the side forward in the closing stages, but its only clear chance arrived in the 94th minute: Basic struck from outside the area, and Butez saved.

The win takes Como to 23 points and fourth place. Venezia, by contrast, sit 20th in Serie A with 3 points after 10 matches. Their record is one win, no draws and nine defeats, with 6 goals scored and 20 conceded. Across their last five league matches, they have one win and four losses.

Fabregas said he initially thought the handball warranted a penalty, before accepting the explanation he had received: “When I saw it, it seemed a clear penalty to me. But before coming here I asked whether it was a penalty or not. I was told it wasn’t because Luis doesn’t move his arm and tries to move it away. It seemed a penalty to me, we were lucky, but the professionals who understand more than me said it wasn’t.” He also pointed to the challenge of preparing for matches with a demanding schedule compared with previous seasons.