Atalanta 3-3 Palermo: La Dea fightback frustrates Rosanero

Date: 21st December 2014 at 4:58pm
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Palermo and Atalanta drew 3-3 at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on Sunday afternoon in Serie A, as the Nerazzurri came from two goals down to earn a valuable point.

Atalanta went into the encounter only two points above the relegation zone and issues in front of goal having amassed only eight goals in the opening 15 matches, while Palermo were confident of securing the points and consolidating their position in the top half

However, the points were shared in an exciting encounter following goals from Luca Rigoni and two from Franco Vasquez, while the Bergamo outfit fought back through Maximiliano Morales and two from German Denis.

Mistake were rife in the opening exchanges with both sides making errors and poor defending resulted in Palermo taking the lead within six minutes

Edgar Barreto found the ball on the left flank and crossed to find the head of Franco Vasquez on the edge of the box who played a headed through ball to Rigoni, who shot past Marco Sportiello in the Atalanta goal into the top right corner.

The young keeper got his side into trouble only seconds later after taking too long to kick the ball away following a pass back which was charged down by Paulo Dybala, although the rebounding ball was directed well away from goal.

It did not take long for the Sicilians to double the lead and did so in the 15th minute through a stunning chip from Vasquez following a run from his own half.

The Argentinian picked the ball up a yard into his own half and ran with support on either side with the Nerazzurri defence stretched, unleashing a perfect chip from 25 yards out with Sportiello off his line as the effort sailed just under the bar.

Atalanta were given the lifeline of a penalty when Denis was fouled in the box by Ezequiel Munoz in the 38th minute and converted confidently by firing into Stefano Sorrentino’s top left corner.

Palermo restored their two goal advantage in first half stoppage time, again through Vasquez, as some suspect defending allowed Dybala to run into the box and cut back for the 25-year-old to finish from close range.

Atalanta came out a different side for the second half and narrowed the deficit in the 54th minute through Maximiliano Morales following a decent spell of pressure.

Boukary Drame crossed from the left flank into bodies in the box, with the ball rebounding to find the feet of the 27-year-old, who slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Luca Cigarini hit the post and Rolando Bianchi tested Sorrentino as Atalanta continued to pressure the Rosanero and equalised through Denis with 15 minutes to go.

Drame crossed to Bianchi who headed onto Denis inside the box who sent Sorrentino the wrong way to make the score 3-3.

Atalanta look the lead moments later but the effort was controversially ruled out for offside as Bianchi curled an effort into the bottom corner, although the forward appeared to be level with the last defender as Palermo held on to settle for a point.

 

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