Serie A | Sassuolo 2-2 Pisa: Thorstvedt rescues last-gasp point

Sassuolo rescued a last-gasp point with virtually the last kick of the game against Pisa in Serie A on Sunday evening: Kristian Thorstvedt’s last-gasp equaliser cancelling out earlier strikes from M’Bala Nzola, Nemanja Matic and Henrik Meister. 

Fabio Grosso named an unchanged Sassuolo starting XI following a 3-0 victory over Atalanta prior to the international break. Andrea Pinamonti led the line again, with support off the wings from Domenico Berardi and Alieu Fadera. Alberto Gilardino made a few alterations to his starting line-up, but stuck with M’Bala Nzola at centre-forward with Matteo Tramoni and Mehdi Leris behind him. 

Click here to read more about how the teams lined up.

It took a matter of seconds for the game’s first controversial incident to arrive. The ball had only been touched three times, including the kick-off, before Idrissa Toure went down in the area. 

A lengthy review resulted in a penalty, which Nzola stepped up to dispatch into the top right corner of the net. 

Veteran Neroverdi midfielder Matic restored parity just a few minutes later with a brilliantly-executed volley from the edge of the area following a Sassuolo corner. The technique was excellent. 

Tramoni and Fadera both had half-chances to put their respective sides in front before half-time, but both fired off target. 

Adrian Semper was called into action to deny Pinamonti early into the second half following a neat passage of one-touch play from the Neroverdi on their way into the area, but the visiting goalkeeper made himself big and put the shot behind the post for a corner. 

Pisa got themselves back into the lead with a brilliant individual effort from substitute Meister: His first goal in Serie A. The leggy no.9 carried the ball the length of the opposition half, made it into the area, cut inside Tarik Muharemovic and slammed past Arijanet Muric for 2-1.

It looked like time was going to run out for Sassuolo in the final moments, but Grosso’s side were able to rescue a valuable point with virtually the last touch of the game. Cristian Volpato’s cross fell perfectly for Thorstvedt, who stuck out his left boot, found the corner and wheeled away in celebration. 

Sassuolo 2-2 Pisa

Nzola (P) 4’, Matic (S) 6’, Meister (P) 81’, Thorstvedt (S) 90+5’.