Benetton Rugby secured an 11-10 win over Zebre Parma in the 80th minute with a penalty conversion by fullback Rhyno Smith.
Despite dominating a scrappy opening quarter, Benetton could not score any points as errors made at crucial moments kept them from scoring.
However, after twenty-nine minutes of play in the first half, Leonardo Marin crossed from short range after a well-worked strike play.
Zebre Parma converted a penalty with three minutes left to play in the first half which Benetton replied with one of their own after twenty minutes of play in the second half, to extend their lead to 08-03.
With time running out Zebre's lock, Andrea Zambonin scored an unconverted try with nine minutes to play to take the lead by 10-08 for the first time of the match.
However, Benetton's fullback Rhyno Smith added an easy three-pointer from virtually in front of the poles to snatch a dramatic win for Benetton.
Scorers:
Benetton Rugby: Try: Leonardo Marin. Penalties: Leonardo Marin, Rhyno Smith.
Zebre Parma: Try: Andrea Zambonin Conversion: Giacomo Da Re. Penalty: Giacomo Da Re.
Teams
Benetton Rugby: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ignacio Brex, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza (c), 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Mirco Spagnolo. Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, Nahuel Tetaz, 18 Giosué Zilocchi, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 Alessandro Izekor, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Jacob Umaga, 23 Leonardo Marin.
Zebre Parma: 15 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 14 Scott Gregory, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Enrico Lucchin, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo Da Re, 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 8 Giovanni Licata, 7 Bautista Stavile, 6 Giacomo Ferrari, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Ion Neculai, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Danilo Fischetti (c). Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Luca Rizzoli, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Leonard Krumov, 20 Iacopo Bianchi, 21 Thomas Dominguez, 22 Filippo Drago, 23 Rusiate Nasove.