Scotland pair fall to defeat in thrilling Serie A clash.
Scotland international duo Kieron Bowie and Josh Doig were unable to stop a superb individual display from on loan Bologna striker Antonio Raimondo as their Sassuolo side fell to a 4-2 away defeat to Frosinone on Friday.
Looking to build on their 1-1 draw with AC Milan last week, Scotland striker Bowie had to be content with a place amongst the substitutes once again, though Doig kept his place at left-back, with the former Hibs ace starting his fifth consecutive game for the Neroverdi.
However, the show was stolen by Frosinone striker Raimondo, who bagged an impressive hat-trick to fire his side to another victory. Taking the lead through Giacomo Calo (9), experienced midfielder Domenico Berardi levelled the score for Sassuolo shortly afterwards (15).
Raimondo stole the show there on in, though, notching his first two goals before the break (27, 30). Kristian Thorstvedt reduced the deficit for the visitors just before the restart (37). However, the Italy Under-21 international restored the home side’s two-goal lead early in the second period (57), sealing his first career hat-trick. The feat also made him the first player in the club’s history to score a treble in the Serie A.
Frosinone’s fourth goal saw Sassuolo boss Alberto Aquilani ring the changes on the hour mark, with Bowie replacing Thorstvedt, while Doig was taken off shortly afterwards in favour of midfielder Luca Lipani as the 42-year-old head coach looked to change his system and salvage a result. Bowie was unable to affect proceedings, though, on a quiet night for the ex-Raith Rovers man, where he touched the ball just 14 times in the final half-hour of the clash.
However, the night would belong to Raimondo, who truly announced his arrival with a glittering display. A revelation since moving to the Stadio Benito Stirpe from Lewis Ferguson’s Bologna on a two-year loan deal, the 22-year-old scored 19 times last season to help the club win the Serie B title, and has continued his sensational form this season, scoring seven goals in his first seven league games for his new side to push them into the top four of the Serie A.
"I owe most of my journey so far to [Manager Massimiliano] Alvini,” said Raimondo after the game. “I arrived after a season where I was awful, and last year we won the championship; thanks to him, I'm making huge improvements, I have him to thank, and that's all." This season’s surprise package, Frosinone currently occupy fourth spot in the Serie A and are just three points behind league leaders Inter Milan having won four of their opening seven games following promotion to the Italian top flight last season.