Atalanta and Hellas Verona drew 1-1 at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on Sunday afternoon in Serie A, with the hosts managing to take the lead, but a last minute goal from the guests handed a point each to the two competing sides.
After 78 minutes of substantial equality, the red card shown to Bosko Jankovic gave all the momentum to Atalanta, who managed to take the lead with a Maxi Moralez header on 90 minutes. Incredibly, though, Eros Pisano managed to make it 1-1 on 97 minutes for the joy of the guest fans.
The game did not begin in the best way for the guests, with captain and star Luca Toni leaving the pitch for an injury following a clash with Gabriel Paletta after just 25 minutes. Giampaolo Pazzini replaced the former Italy striker.
Atalanta was Pazzini’s first club, having played there from 1999 in the youth team up until 2005 before moving to Fiorentina.
Very little happened in the first 45 minutes, with the highlight being Toni’s injury. Both teams appeared willing to not concede and to focus on the defence.
There were no substitutions at half time, and the second half started in a different spirit.
Maxi Moralez with a wonderful volley on 55 minutes went close to the 1-0, and just three minutes later Pazzini had the chance to bring Verona in front, but Marco Sportiello replied with a brilliant save.
On 62 minutes Atalanta captain German Denis came off for Italy Under-21 striker Gaetano Monachello.
Not much happened afterwards, until Rafa Marquez was forced to leave the pitch for an injury, with Matteo Bianchetti substituting him.
The best chance of the game came on 72 minutes, with Maxi Moralez smashing a wonderful shot directly from the corner kick onto the far post. On the rebound, Alejandro Gomez’s shot was brilliantly saved by Pierluigi Gollini.
The final 15 minutes heated up with Jankovic being shown the second yellow card of his game and being sent off.
After this, Atalanta had all the momentum to win the game and Moralez scored in the way you’d least expect from him, smashing home a header to make it 1-0 on 90 minutes.
Just as you’d think it was over, Pisano with a last second header made it 1-1, saving Verona from a bad defeat.
