FROSINONE, ITALY — Farès Ghedjemis emerged as Frosinone's hero, drilling home the decisive goal in the 73rd minute to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Spezia in a pulsating Serie B encounter at Stadio Benito Stirpe. The attacking midfielder's clinical finish ultimately separated two evenly-matched sides in a contest that kept supporters on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
The home side struck first in the 16th minute when Gabriele Bracaglia broke the deadlock, sending the Frosinone faithful into raptures. The midfielder found space inside the area and made no mistake with his finish, giving his side an early advantage that would shape the opening half. Antonio Raimondo picked up a yellow card in the 36th minute as Frosinone looked to protect their slender lead, while Bracaglia himself was cautioned shortly after the restart in the 49th minute as tensions rose.
Ghedjemis restored Frosinone's advantage in the 73rd minute with a moment of quality that proved worthy of winning any match. The goal seemed to have settled the contest, but Pietro Beruatto had other ideas, thundering home in the 93rd minute to set up a frantic finale. Salvatore Esposito received a yellow card in the 91st minute as Spezia pushed desperately for an equalizer, but Frosinone held firm through three additional minutes of stoppage time.
The tactical battle was fierce throughout, with the teams sharing possession almost equally at 47.9%-52.1% in Spezia's favor. However, Frosinone created significantly more danger, unleashing 22 shots compared to Spezia's 16, demonstrating their attacking intent. Both goalkeepers delivered exceptional performances under intense pressure—Spezia's shot-stopper was called into action 6 times, while Frosinone's goalkeeper was kept busy making 5 crucial saves. The hosts managed 8 shots on target to Spezia's 6, showcasing their superior clinical edge in the final third.
The turning point arrived with Frosinone's double substitution in the 62nd minute, introducing Francesco Gelli and Massimo Zilli to inject fresh energy into the attack. The tactical adjustment paid immediate dividends, as the renewed impetus led directly to Ghedjemis' match-winning strike just 11 minutes later. Spezia responded with their own changes, bringing on Giuseppe Di Serio and Vanja Vlahovic in the 70th and 71st minutes, but struggled to break down a resolute Frosinone defense until Beruatto's late intervention.
The match was played with considerable physicality, reflected in the 16 fouls committed by Frosinone compared to Spezia's 11, with four yellow cards shown across both sides. Spezia enjoyed a 10-5 advantage in corners but couldn't capitalize on their set-piece opportunities until the dying moments. The visitors' late surge, including Gianluca Lapadula's introduction in the 80th minute, nearly salvaged an unlikely point, but Frosinone's defensive resilience—bolstered by late substitutes Kevin Barcella and Davide Biraschi—ensured all three points remained at Stadio Benito Stirpe.
Looking ahead, Frosinone will travel to face Empoli on December 27, while Spezia host Pescara on the same day.