Cesena 2 : 3 Torino - Lopez late goal seals Torino win
Posted Monday, January 19, 2015 by PA
Substitute Maxi Lopez scored his first goal for Torino three minutes from time to hand his new club a 3-2 triumph at Cesena on Sunday.
Strugglers Cesena looked to have earned a point after Franco Brienza converted his second penalty of the day two minutes earlier only for Lopez to steal the show and hand Toro their fifth win of the campaign.
Toro had looked to be heading for a comfortable win when goals from Marco Benassi and Fabio Quagliarella had given them a 2-0 lead after 22 minutes played.
However, Brienza reduced the deficit when he earned and converted a penalty before the interval.
The victory, Toro's first on the road since September 24, has lifted the Granata to 13th place.
Cesena, winless since the opening day of the campaign in August, have conceded their sixth defeat in their last seven league games and remain 19th in the standings.
Quagliarella returned to the starting XI having rested in Wednesday's 3-1 home defeat to Lazio that saw his side eliminated from the Coppa Italia.
Lopez, who joined Toro from Chievo last week, and made his debut at Lazio, started on the bench.
The visitors went ahead in the 20th minute when Alexander Farnerud spotted Benassi in the box and his right-footed effort beat Cesena goalkeeper Nicola Leali.
Before the hosts were presented with a real chance to reply, Toro doubled their lead two minutes later.
Farnerud again acted as provider when he crossed the ball to an unmarked Quagliarella at the far post and he tucked the ball beyond Leali.
In the 40th minute, the referee pointed to the penalty spot after Torino goalkeeper Daniele Padelli brought down Brienza in the area.
Brienza struck the ball out of Padelli's reach to put his team back in the game.
Cesena looked more dangerous after the re-start and in the 54th minute, Brienza's left-footed shot from 15 yards was saved by Padelli.
Shortly after, Brienza's goal-bound shot was blocked by two Toro defenders.
Cesena were then given a helping hand when the referee awarded the hosts a penalty after Pontus Jansson's handball in the area.
Brienza scored with a delightful panenka chip to beat Padelli. b
The visitors had the last say, however, when Quagliarella set up Lopez in the six-yard box and his right-footed touch beat Leali.
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