Soccer
Watford score dramatic late goal to give boss Alessio Dionisi winning start
New Watford head coach Alessio Dionisi’s first game in charge needed a dramatic 99th-minute winner to sink battling League Two Crawley 1-0 at Vicarage Road.
Dionisi, the Hornets’ 15th full-time appointment in seven years, watched his side squander a glut of chances until Marc Bola’s 25-yard rocket, 15 seconds from the end of nine minutes’ stoppage time, found the target from their 36th goal attempt.
Watford did not lack endeavour, but 38-year-old former Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone was inspired and he was only beaten at the last gasp.
Mannone tipped over Othmane Maamma’s fierce effort and beat out Mattie Pollock’s header before the break to keep the League Two underdogs afloat.
And Crawley, who bravely left three men upfield when weathering a plethora of corners, were by no means content to survive.
Watford keeper Federico Ravaglia, on his debut, made a sharp save to deny Charlie Barker an opener against the run of play.
After the break it was the same story. Luca Kjerrumgaard hit the post and Iker Bravo shovelled wastefully wide before veteran Mannone saved superbly to thwart Edoardo Bove and then Mamadou Doumbia, one-on-one, in stoppage time.
However, with the contest heading for penalties, Bola’s spectacular long-range hit, with his less favoured right foot, broke Crawley’s hearts at the death.
