Parma signed off at the Stadio Ennio Tardini in Serie A action for the final time for the foreseeable future with a 2-2 draw against Hellas Verona on Sunday afternoon.
The lively Antonio Nocerino opened the scoring and Varela doubled their lead but the evergreen Luca Toni struck twice to claim a point for his team and move out in front as Serie A’s leading scorer with 21 goals.
Nocerino was involved in much of the home side’s good football in the opening stages – firstly setting up Varela who blasted wide in a good position with his left foot before sizing up a shot from distance himself that Rafael took no chances with and turned wide of his goal.
Based on his early efforts, it would not be long before he did manage to score the opener – the Verona goalkeeper spilling an initial effort from Raffaele Palladino and the ex-AC Milan midfielder was on hand to supply the finish that gave the Crociati following something to cheer in the Emilia-Romagna sun.
With that goal, it brought him level with Palladino as the club’s top scorer of this season of players who are still at the club: the fact that it was with a paltry three goals says it all about why the club find themselves in the position they are in.
A flurry of attacking activity followed on 35 minutes as Varela, Andrea Lucarelli and Mattia Cassani all had efforts at goal charged down before the Gialloblu did double their lead moments later.
Collecting a precise pass from Jose Mauri, he made sure he gave Rafael no chance at keeping the ball out with an accurate diagonal into the corner for his first goal in eight games.
Content with their two goal lead, the last thing they needed was to give a listless Verona outfit a way back into the match but they duly did so with the concession of an equaliser three minutes before the half-time whistle.
Agostini, who looks set to leave the club this summer, sent a brilliant ball into the box and Toni won the aerial battle against Zouhair Feddal, heading the ball beyond Antonio Mirante.
That goal now moves him level with Carlos Tevez and Mauro Icardi at the top of the Serie A scoring charts – just two days before he turns 38 and marks the sixth time in his career that he has reached 20 goals in a league campaign.
He set up Panagiotis Tachtsidis for a good chance moments after the break but he could only fire straight at Mirante who was tested again as the half wore on as the Mastini influence began to grow – needing to be alert to keep out an angled Nico Lopez drive.
It was an easier save for the Parma netminder when Toni headed straight into his arms but he was to be worked much harder when, with 10 minutes remaining, the ball struck the arm of Feddal inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot.
Toni took full advantage to secure the draw for his side with a calm kick and, with just 90 minutes of the season left, sits proudly alone at the top of the capocannoniere list.
