At the "Domenico Francioni" stadium, Benevento faced off against Latina on the twenty-eighth matchday of Serie C, with both teams desperate for points to help pull them out of troubling slumps. The contest ended with each side taking home just one point after the teams drew 1-1.
The match kicked off with urgency, as Benevento struck early. Just two minutes in, Lanini scored with a volley after receiving a perfect assist from Prisco’s free kick. This goal marked Lanini’s tenth of the season, breaking what had been a lengthy scoring drought for the Strega, which had not found the net since their trip to Foggia.
Following the quick start, Benevento aimed to double their lead. A chance came shortly after, when Acampora tested Latina’s keeper, Zacchi, with a shot on target, forcing him to make the save. Despite Benevento’s early momentum, the tide turned when Latina found the equalizer. Scravaglieri capitalized on shaky defending to nod home the equalizer from Riccardi's cross, bringing the score to 1-1 by the 19th minute.
The rest of the first half saw Benevento squander additional chances, the most notable coming just before the break when Pinato, from close range, failed to convert and shot wide instead.
Into the second half, Benevento continued to press, seeking to reclaim the lead. The play was largely dominated by the Giallorossi, but they struggled to create clear opportunities. Talia made his presence known as he made dangerous runs but was met with defensive resistance from the Latina backline.
Pinato had another opportunity to put his team back on top at the 68th minute, but his effort was weak and central, failing to test the goalkeeper effectively. The final moments saw some drama with Carfora's shot-cum-cross hitting the post, which denied Benevento the winning goal.
After more than ninety minutes of intense contest, both teams were left with only the satisfaction of sharing the spoils. The draw leaves Benevento mired in their difficulties, having achieved just one point from the game, extending their crisis following their previous outing against Messina.
The game's outcome has significant standings ramifications. Benevento is keeping pace with the mid-table but is falling farther behind their rivals, as their chances seem to dwindle with each passing week. Opponent Avellino's concurrent victory against Caserta means Benevento now trails them by four points.
Despite some bright spots, such as Lanini’s early strike, the performance has highlighted cracks within both teams. Coach Michele Pazienza of Benevento has decisions to make as he assesses player performances and strategies moving forward. His side's inability to close out games and convert opportunities continues to plague them as they now must look to upcoming matches to regain lost momentum.
Both squads are now focused on their next fixtures as they aim to cut out redundancies and turn draws and missed opportunities to wins to revitalize their seasons. Yet the clock is ticking on each team's respective campaigns, emphasizing the urgency needed for change.