ASCOLI PICENO, Italy (Interstat) — Ascoli Calcio 1898 FC secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Vis Pesaro 1898 in a Serie C match on Saturday, with the winning goal arriving deep into second-half stoppage time at Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca.

The match, a tense and closely fought contest between two clubs from Italy’s Marche region, appeared destined for a draw until Ascoli’s Amine Chakir scored in the third minute of added time to break a 1-1 deadlock and send the home supporters into a frenzy. The result solidified Ascoli’s strong position in the league table.

Vis Pesaro, the visiting side, stunned the home crowd early by taking the lead in the 15th minute through a goal from Nicolò Lari. The early strike forced Ascoli to chase the game against a disciplined Pesaro defense that had proven difficult to break down in recent outings.

Ascoli, however, demonstrated the resilience that has characterized their season, persistently applying pressure throughout the match. Their efforts were finally rewarded in the dying moments of the contest when Chakir found the net to complete the comeback. The late goal was a crushing blow for a Pesaro team that had been minutes away from earning a valuable road point.

The victory extends Ascoli’s impressive run of form in Italy’s third division. The club now holds a season record of 11 wins, four losses and four draws in Serie C competition, mirroring its overall record across all tournaments this season. The three points keep them firmly among the frontrunners in the league.

For Vis Pesaro, the defeat marks another frustrating result in a season of inconsistency. The team’s record in the competition now stands at seven wins, five losses and seven draws, with its overall record identical. The loss continues a pattern of narrow setbacks, having also fallen 1-0 to AC Perugia Calcio in its previous match just six days earlier.

The outcome also provided a measure of separation in the head-to-head series between the two clubs this season. Their previous meeting on Dec. 1, 2025, ended in a 1-1 draw in Pesaro. Saturday’s result gives Ascoli the edge in the regional rivalry for this campaign.

Pre-match analytics from Interstat heavily favored the home side, projecting a 75.10 percent probability of an Ascoli victory and simulating a final score of 1-0. While the margin of victory was narrow, Ascoli ultimately outperformed that statistical expectation with its last-gasp winner.

The match was a showcase of the competitive nature of Serie C, where outcomes are often decided by fine margins and late drama. Ascoli’s ability to secure maximum points under pressure will be seen as a mark of a team with promotion ambitions, while Pesaro must regroup after conceding a decisive goal so late in the proceedings. Both teams continue their Serie C schedules next weekend.