By Daily Sports on June 21, 2020

Torino's Andrea Belotti missed a penalty as Serie A resumed on Saturday after a three-month coronavirus shutdown with his side drawing 1-1 at home with Parma as ten-man Verona held on to beat Cagliari 2-1.

Juraj Kucka grabbed a point for Parma with his 31st-minute leveller after Nicolas Nkoulou had nodded the hosts ahead after quarter of an hour behind closed doors at Turin’s Stadio Olimpico.

But the first top-flight game in 103 days in Italy got off to a false start with a deflated ball having to be replaced after five seconds.

Before kick-off players and referees formed a circle to observe a minute's silence for the victims of Covid-19, which has killed over 34 500 people in Italy at the time this article was published.

Torino had a message on their shirts for health care workers: "Thanks to all our heroes."

Cameroon defender Nkoulou took the knee after heading in the opening goal, paying tribute to American George Floyd, whose death at the hands of police in Minnesota sparked worldwide protests over racial and social injustice.

But Parma were soon on level terms with Ivory Coast forward Gervinho setting up Slovak Kucka to blast in the equaliser 16 minutes later.

Parma could thank goalkeeper Luigi Sepe for their point when, after already denying Simone Zaza at close range, the Italian stopper then pushed away Belotti’s spot-kick just three minutes after the break.

Torino ended a six-match league losing streak with their first point since 12 January, but stay 15th, three points above the relegation zone, with Parma in eighth place.

"This performance gives us an important signal, we are alive," said Torino coach Moreno Longo.

"We're satisfied with the performance but not the result. We played united as a team despite coming through a difficult period.

"We think positive for the next game even if the path is long and difficult." (Supersport)

•PHOTO: Serie A players

Source Daily Sports

Posted June 21, 2020

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