Novara Calcio 3 : 3 Catania - Gomez claims Catania point in thriller
Posted Sunday, October 02, 2011 by PA
Alejandro Gomez's stoppage-time equaliser earned Catania a dramatic point against Novara as an entertaining Serie A encounter at the Stadio Silvio Piola finished 3-3.
The hosts twice came from behind to get back on level terms, Marcio Rigoni's penalty cancelling out Nicola Legrottaglie's 14th-minute opener and Takayuki Morimoto equalising again after Francesco Lodi had restored Catania's advantage.
Promoted Novara then went in front for the first time in the 85th minute through substitute Jeda, only for Gomez to snatch a draw for the visitors in the first minute of added time.
Legrottaglie was making his first start for Catania as an injury ruled Nicola Spolli out on the eve of the match, and he could not have wished for a better debut as he opened the scoring in the 14th minute.
He did not really know too much about it, though, as a corner from the left struck his foot and went into the bottom corner.
Novara had a strong penalty appeal waved away at the other end a minute later when Giovanni Marchese seemed to foul Riccardo Meggiorini just inside the area.
Catania looked more confident, though, and were unfortunate to see a goal disallowed in the 20th minute for a marginal offside decision against Sergio Almiron.
Another offside decision ruled out a goal from Pablo Granoche early in the second half, but the referee had already pointed to the penalty spot for a handball by Gennaro Delvecchio, over-ruling his assistant.
Rigoni stepped up to score his second penalty of the season and bring Novara level.
Catania restored their lead in the 56th minute with a trademark free-kick from Lodi, who curled his shot over the wall and into the top-right corner.
The home team levelled again in the 65th minute with former Catania striker Morimoto getting his name on the scoresheet.
Rigoni was the provider as he headed a free-kick across the face of goal to the Japanese forward, who nodded in from a yard out.
It was then the turn of another substitute, and another former Catania player, to find the target for Novara in the 85th minute.
Jeda beat the offside trap to race through and, although his first shot was saved by Mariano Andujar, he was on hand to head home the loose ball.
Novara's celebrations were premature, though, as Gomez scored with the outside of his boot in stoppage time to grab a draw for the Sicilians.
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