# Virtus Entella Snatch Late Winner to Down Modena in Chiavari Thriller
**CHIAVARI, ITALY —** Nermin Karic's 85th-minute strike proved decisive as Virtus Entella claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Modena at the Comunale Aldo Gastaldi on Tuesday, a result that significantly bolsters the hosts' Serie B promotion credentials.
The match ebbed and flowed with genuine drama, ultimately decided only in the closing stages after Modena had threatened to escape with something from a contest in which they controlled large portions of possession and created the greater volume of chances.
Virtus Entella struck first right on the stroke of half-time, with Tommaso Del Lungo finding the net in the 45th minute to send the home side into the interval with a slender advantage. The lead, however, lasted barely two minutes into the second half. Daniel Tonoli levelled for Modena in the 47th minute, restoring parity and setting the stage for a tense final hour of football.
Both managers turned to their benches in search of a winning edge. Entella made a series of changes from the 57th minute onwards, while Modena's Filippo Ranocchia responded with a triple substitution at the 69th minute, introducing Manuel De Luca, Francesco Zampano, and Yanis Massolin in an attempt to tip the balance. It was Entella, though, who found the decisive moment—Karic, operating from midfield, struck with five minutes remaining to seal all three points and send the Chiavari faithful into raptures.
The statistics underline just how hard-earned this victory was. Modena enjoyed a marginal edge in possession at 50.2 percent and proved considerably more prolific in attack, registering 18 shot attempts to Entella's seven, with five efforts on target compared to four for the hosts. The visitors also earned six corner kicks to Entella's one. Yet Entella's goalkeeper Colombi and his defence held firm when it mattered most, while Modena's Chichizola was called upon twice to keep his side in contention.
Discipline proved costly as well: Entella finished the match with ten men following a red card, while Modena collected a yellow card across a foul-laden contest that saw the visitors commit 13 fouls to the home side's eight. Despite their numerical disadvantage, the hosts refused to yield.
For Entella, the win snaps a difficult run of form and offers a timely confidence boost ahead of their next fixture. For Modena, it is a frustrating afternoon—their profligacy in front of goal ultimately proving their undoing against a resilient home side. Both teams will look to bounce back in their upcoming matches as the Serie B season intensifies.