FORLI, Italy (Interstat) — SS Arezzo opened its Serie C campaign with a narrow 2-1 victory over host FC Forli on Saturday, overcoming a halftime deficit with a second-half equalizer before snatching a dramatic winner in stoppage time at Stadio Tullo Morgagni.

The match, played on Jan. 3, 2026, defied pregame statistical projections that heavily favored the home side. Despite data from Interstat giving FC Forli a 54.3 percent probability to win, it was the visiting Arezzo that found the decisive late goal to secure all three points.

The home side started brightly and was rewarded in the 16th minute. Andrea Franzolini put FC Forli ahead, capitalizing on early momentum to give his team a lead it would carry into the intermission. Arezzo struggled to break down a organized Forli defense for much of the first half.

The dynamic of the match shifted after the break as Arezzo increased its pressure. The persistence paid off in the 55th minute when Emiliano Pattarello found the net, pulling the visitors level at 1-1 and setting the stage for a tense final half-hour. The goal altered the trajectory of the game, with Arezzo growing in confidence while Forli sought to regain its earlier control.

As the clock ticked into added time with the score still deadlocked, the contest appeared headed for a draw. However, in the third minute of stoppage time, Arezzo’s Shaka Mawuli delivered the final, crushing blow to the home supporters. His last-gasp strike secured a 2-1 comeback win for the visitors, sparking wild celebrations among the traveling contingent.

The result immediately impacted the early Serie C standings. SS Arezzo begins its season with a perfect record of one win and no losses in the competition. FC Forli, conversely, starts its campaign with a defeat, standing at zero wins and one loss. The records in all competitions for both clubs mirror their Serie C outcomes.

The final score also fell short of the pregame simulation from Interstat, which had projected a more comfortable 3-1 victory for Arezzo. The actual outcome proved to be tighter but ultimately followed the simulator’s predicted winner, if not the margin.

The victory provides SS Arezzo with a crucial away win to launch its season, built on resilience and a clinical finish when it mattered most. For FC Forli, the defeat marks a frustrating start, having let a lead slip and conceding at the death in front of its home fans. Both teams will look to build on the performance as the Serie C season continues.