Aki’s last attempt snatches the victory from Connacht in Treviso

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Connacht survived a major scare when Bundee Aki crossed in the last minute to snatch a 19-17 win from the Guinness Pro 14 at Benetton.

With the teams tied 14-14 in the final five minutes, Edoardo Padovani’s penalty appeared to have secured a first victory in the competition this season for the Italians.

However, Aki landed after a maul to the death to secure a major victory in Connacht’s attempt to hunt down Conference B leaders Munster.

The Westerners were nine points behind their compatriot in the Irish province heading into Italy, with Munster playing Cardiff Blues later on Friday before a meeting with Connacht in Thomond Park next weekend.

Andy Friend’s team owed much of their fight in Treviso to a costly Shane Delahunt who sinned late in the first half for a dangerous tackle on Jayden Hayward.

Connacht was leading 7-0 at the time thanks to Finlay Bealham’s opening try, but, with the visitors reduced to 14 men, Benetton took the lead before the break through converted tries by Davide Ruggeri and Leonardo Sarto.

Paddy McAllister touched down to level the score once more early in the second half, but it was Benetton who started from there.

However, a rare victory was cruelly ripped from their grasp when Irish center Aki found the line with Connacht’s last effort.

Having come close to landing moments before amid sustained pressure on the Benetton line, Bealham sank in the 16th minute, with Conor Fitzgerald adding in the extras.

Connacht took a hit when Delahunt was penalized for lifting Hayward above horizontal and placing him on his back, earning him 10 minutes in the bin.

The Italians made their visitors pay quickly as Ruggeri pushed past the posts and Padovani leveled the scores.

Benetton was up front at halftime, spreading the ball to the left wing, where Sarto stepped inside to find the space and showed a tremendous change of pace to rush to the line, with Padovani back on target from the tee.

Connacht emerged for the second half determined to make amends and landed quickly through McAllister before Delahunt returned to the field.

Fitzgerald restored parity, but with the game balanced, it was Benetton who finished stronger and Padovani put them in a winning position.

However, Connacht’s decision to kick for the corner of the remaining penalties finally paid off when Aki produced the winning touchdown.



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