Gervinho grabs last-gasp draw for Parma against Serie A leaders Juventus

Posted Sunday, February 03, 2019 by PA

Gervinho fired a stoppage time equaliser as Parma twice hit back from two goals down to draw 3-3 at Serie A leaders Juventus.

Former Arsenal forward Gervinho slid home his second goal of the match deep in added time as Parma became just the second club this season to take a point off Juve at the Allianz Stadium.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Daniele Rugani had put Juve 2-0 up and although Antonino Barilla pulled one back for Parma, Ronaldo made it 3-1 soon after.

But Gervinho turned the ball home from close range in the 74th minute and snatched his side a point with his second in the third minute of added time.

Parma started brightly as Juraj Kucka fired straight at Juventus goalkeeper Mattia Perin from outside the box and Simone Iacoponi headed off target following a corner.

Juve soon settled and Sami Khedira threatened from inside the box before Ronaldo’s long-range drive forced Parma goalkeeper Luigi Sepe into action.

But Parma went close to opening the scoring in the 21st minute when Kucka’s effort from Iacoponi’s headed pass was well saved by Perin at full stretch.

Leonardo Spinazzola spurned a chance for Juve just after the half-hour mark before Khedira’s shot hit a post after he had been set up by Diego Costa.

Juve’s mounting pressure paid off nine minutes before the break. Blaise Matuidi provided the assist and from the left edge of the area Ronaldo arrowed a trademark finish into the bottom corner.

Khedira hit a post again, this time with a header, in the 57th minute but Ronaldo set up Rugani for Juve’s second five minutes later.

Barilla’s header from Kucka’s cross two minutes after that gave Parma hope, but Ronaldo headed home his second from Mario Mandzukic’s cross within another two minutes.

Gervinho tucked home his first goal from close range following Kucka’s ball in with 16 minutes left and after Roberto Inglese had gone close for the visitors with five minutes left, the Ivorian levelled for Parma in time added on.