Sassuolo drew 2-2 with Atalanta in a pulsating encounter at the Stadio Mapei on Sunday afternoon in Serie A.
Maurizio Pinilla put La Dea ahead before Sassuolo captain Francesco Magnanelli levelled. Pinilla put his team back in front, only to see Antonio Floro Flores restore parity. Both Pinilla and Sime Vrsaljko later found themselves sent off for accruing two bookings.
A lively early start for the home side saw the Neroverdi awarded a penalty after Nicolo Cherubin pulled down Simone Missiroli, but Nicola Sansone saw his kick saved by Marco Sportiello. A few minutes later, Sassuolo were made to pay.
Alejandro Daro Gomez broke free on the left hand side of the area and floated a cross to the back post where Pinilla gave Atalanta the lead with a powerful bicycle kick that Andrea Consigli could only watch rocket into the net.
The hosts thought they had an immediate response, after Floro Flores converted a cross, but his bundled effort was pulled back for offside. Eusebio Di Francesco’s side did draw level halfway through the half, as a quickly taken free-kick landed at Francesco Magnanelli’s feet. The Neroverdi captain steadied himself, then lashed it home from 25 yards.
Pinilla put the Orobici back in front soon after, pouncing on Vrsaljko’s loose ball before rifling past Consigli despite the stopper’s best efforts. A breathless first half concluded with Floro Flores pummeling in another equaliser from just outside the penalty area.
Pinilla went from hero to villain early in the second period, given a second yellow card for taking down a breaking Federico Peluso. Down to 10 men, Atalanta were able to slow the game down and Sassuolo found the going tougher as the match progressed, restricted to speculative crosses and shots from distance.
A bad afternoon for Vrsaljko was concluded by two bookings within a few minutes, the second resulting in a late penalty that saw Sportiello save from Maxi Moralez which was the last real chance of the match.
The Neroverdi remain unbeaten and climb up to fourth with the point.
