Cesc Fabregas’ Como claim the spoils in the former Arsenal and Chelsea star’s first match as a manager in testy victory featuring TWO red cards, a pitchside brawl, and a lengthy VAR check

• Como won 2-1 at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigalia in an increasingly chaotic match 
• Fabregas previously managed the youth ‘Primavera’ team before interim role 
• It’s All Kicking Off: Jack Grealish has lost his zip… we need him to get it back 

Cesc Fabregas claimed victory in his debut in the dugout at Como, with the Serie B side outsmarting a 10-man Feralpisalo at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigalia. 

The former Arsenal and Chelsea star – who co-owns the northern Italian side – was appointed interim head coach at the club ahead of the international break after previously playing for the side, and managing their Primavera under-19 team. 

Fabregas is still in the process of completing his UEFA coaching badges, but he was off to the races in the home clash. 

Out of the gates, Como were the dominant side after claiming the lead in just three minutes thanks to a goal from Lucas Da Cunha. 

It looked as if the side would see out the match with relatively little complaint, until the opposition plucked an equaliser from thin air in the 52nd minute to level the tie. 

Cesc Fabregas won his first match in charge of Como in dramatic circumstands on Saturday

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Feralpisalo’s goal appeared to shake the side, who fought desperately to bring the tie to heel but were unable to get clear of away side, who sit dead last in the table. 

Respite appeared to come for Fabregas’ side with just over 10 minutes left to play with a decided from Patrick Cutrone, who provided Da Cunha’s earlier assist, but VAR opted to take a closer look at the toe of forward’s boot, and whether it made contact with Federico Bergonzi in the build-up. 

From there, all hell broke loose: after referee Francesco Cosso was called over to the monitor to have a second look at the potential foul, an almighty clash broke out between the two sides next to the dugout. 

During the lengthy VAR check, players scrapped close to the dugout and two players were handed red cards

In the fracas, which dragged the referee from his deliberations, Feralpisalo’s Gaetano Letizia grabbed the throat of Cutrone, and players in the fray had to be separated by members of the coaching staff, including Fabregas. 

Both Letizia and Daniele Baselli – on the bench at the time, and already on a yellow – were handed red cards before the goal was chalked off. 

Como didn’t need all of the eight additional minutes to find their winner against a depleted Feralpisalo, with Alessandro Gabrielloni burying the ball in the back of the net five minutes before time. 

The home win boosts Como to fourth in the Serie B table with 13 matches played, and just one point of Cremonese with a game in hand.  

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