Saul Coco Scores First Serie A Goal in Torino Victory

In a thrilling match held on August 30, 2024, Saul Coco netted his first Serie A goal, leading Torino to a well-deserved victory away from home against Venezia. This match marked a significant moment for coach Paolo Vanoli, as he triumphed over his former club.

Despite the absence of key players Gianluca Busio and Bjarki Bjarkason, Venezia welcomed back last season’s top scorer, Joel Pohjanpalo, after a month-long injury hiatus. Additionally, Hans Nicolussi Caviglia made his debut in this competitive fixture. Torino had previously drawn and secured a win in their initial matches of the season, with Che Adams continuing to partner Duvan Zapata in the attack.

The match saw a commanding performance from Nicolussi Caviglia, who tested goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic with two exceptional attempts. His first shot was a curling effort that was brilliantly tipped over the bar, followed by a corner kick that nearly found its way in after a powerful shot was palmed away from under the crossbar.

Venezia’s defense was called upon again when goalkeeper Jesse Joronen successfully managed a central effort from Ivan Ilic before deflecting a strike from Samuele Ricci around the post. However, despite a strong showing, Venezia struggled to convert their chances, including a missed opportunity from Antonio Candela that could have set up Pohjanpalo for a pivotal goal.

The deadlock was finally broken in the closing minutes when Ilic delivered a corner kick that was deftly flicked on by Adam Masina. Saul Coco then rose high to direct a header into the far top corner, securing the win for Torino amidst intense pressure.

In stoppage time, Venezia nearly equalized when Christian Gytkjaer, having evaded the offside trap, squandered a key chance with a poorly executed finish, resulting in a disappointing outcome for the home side.