Benevento have made the worst ever start to a season by a team from Europe’s top five leagues after they were condemned to a 13th straight defeat in the cruelest of circumstances by Sassuolo on Sunday.
The Serie A newcomers had lost all 12 of their fixtures heading into the match and knew a 13th consecutive defeat would see them break Manchester United’s unwanted record, set 87 years ago back in the 1930-31 season.
And they were just two minutes away from a draw before Federico Peluso’s header snatched away Benevento’s first point away and consigned them to the record books for all the wrong reasons.
Benevento’s players are left dejected after their 13th straight defeat of the Serie A campaign
Benevento had enjoyed the best of the first half action and should have gone ahead six minutes before the interval but Raman Chibsah hesitated after being played in on goal by Amato Ciciretti.
That optimism soon faded when nine minutes into the second half they shot themselves in the foot by overplaying in their own area.
A misplaced pass found Simone Missiroli who crossed for Alessandro Matri.
The former Juventus striker made no mistake and punished the home side’s mistake by placing his effort past Alberto Brignoli.
Benevento reacted well though and soon dragged themselves level and back on course for their first point ever in the Italian top flight.
Alessandro Matri (right) celebrates scoring Sassuolo’s opener following a defensive mistake
A corner was cleared away by Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea Consigli but only as far as the impressive Ciciretti who drove a low effort towards goal.
Strike partner Samuel Armenteros found himself in the right place at the right time and reacted well to steer home for the equaliser.
But almost immediately their task was made a lot harder. Barely two minutes after Armentero’s leveller, Benevento were down to 10 men.
Gaetano Letizia was shown a second yellow card after he was adjudged to have hauled down Matri. The replays showed it was a harsh decision.
The game soon became stretched as Sassuolo went in search of the winner and Benevento looked to hit them on the counter-attack.
Samuel Armenteros (left) grabs the ball off goalkeeper Andrea Consigli after he equalised
As the match drifted into injury time the away side ramped up the pressure as they bid to avoid the embarrassment of becoming the first team to hand Benevento their first point.
Cue the most dramatic of finishes at the Stadio Ciro Vigorito. With Benevento sitting deeper and deeper, Marcello Gazzola launched a cross in to the area.
Andreas Costa inexplicably used his arm to clear the referee had little choice but to award the spot kick and Benevento looked set to for another chastening defeat.
But luck looked to be on their side as Sassuolo talisman Domenico Berardi lost his composure and fired his spot kick off the crossbar.
Federico Peluso powers home the injury-time winner to hand Sassuolo all three points
Sassuolo celebrate after condemning Benevento to the history books for all the wrong reasons
Benevento were within touching distance of their first point but in their 13th match of the season their good fortune would not hold.
Deep into injury time Benevento forced a corner as Diego Falcinelli forced an outstanding save from Brignoli.
And from the resulting corner Benevento’s maiden point was snatched from their grasp as Peluso rose highest to plant a powerful header into the top corner.
The away side’s bench emptied as substitutes piled on to the pitch to mob Peluso, for Sassuolo it was relief more than anything.
Benevento’s players dropped to their knees in disbelief, the ignominy of yet another defeat washing over them. The worst ever start to a season by a top-flight side in Europe’s top five leagues.