Four goals from teenage forward Domenico Berardi saw relegation-threatened Sassuolo come back from two goals down to humiliate AC Milan 4-3 on Sunday evening.
Within 15 minutes at the Mapei Stadium, the visitors went 2-0 up after goals from Robinho and Mario Balotelli, and they looked on their way to recording back to back victories.
However, 19-year-old Sassuolo forward Berardi bagged a hat-trick in a little more than 25 minutes to turn the game on its head.
Berardi added a fourth goal early in the second half and Sassuolo held on to move out of the bottom three, despite a Riccardo Montolivo goal which set up a grandstand finish.
Co-owned by Juventus, Berardi wrote himself into the record books by becoming the second youngest player ever to score four goals in Serie A - and the first teenager since Silvio Piola in 1931.
"It is an evening I will certainly never forget," Berardi told Sky Sport Italia while clutching the match ball.
"I am happy for the four goals, but above all because this was an important win for Sassuolo and we really needed that boost."
It is a remarkable rise to prominence for a player who was discovered by Sassuolo scout Luciano Carlino while playing football with some friends during a visit to Modena, where his brother was studying.
Sassuolo coach Eusebio Di Francesco added: "He is a player who can make the difference. He knew this was a very important match and gave what he needed to."
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| Domenico Berardi celebrates after scoring his and Sassuolo's fourth goal against AC Milan Photo: Reuters |
Within 15 minutes at the Mapei Stadium, the visitors went 2-0 up after goals from Robinho and Mario Balotelli, and they looked on their way to recording back to back victories.
However, 19-year-old Sassuolo forward Berardi bagged a hat-trick in a little more than 25 minutes to turn the game on its head.
Berardi added a fourth goal early in the second half and Sassuolo held on to move out of the bottom three, despite a Riccardo Montolivo goal which set up a grandstand finish.
Co-owned by Juventus, Berardi wrote himself into the record books by becoming the second youngest player ever to score four goals in Serie A - and the first teenager since Silvio Piola in 1931.
"It is an evening I will certainly never forget," Berardi told Sky Sport Italia while clutching the match ball.
"I am happy for the four goals, but above all because this was an important win for Sassuolo and we really needed that boost."
It is a remarkable rise to prominence for a player who was discovered by Sassuolo scout Luciano Carlino while playing football with some friends during a visit to Modena, where his brother was studying.
Sassuolo coach Eusebio Di Francesco added: "He is a player who can make the difference. He knew this was a very important match and gave what he needed to."
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