In a thrilling Serie B encounter at the Ennio Tardini Stadium, Parma and Venezia played out an intense 1-1 draw. While the Ducali will rue missed opportunities in a match they largely controlled, Venezia left the pitch celebrating a hard-earned and crucial point in their fight to climb out of the relegation zone.
First Half: Venezia Strikes First
Parma came out strong, clearly aiming to exploit their home advantage. Despite the absence of Bonny, replaced by Cancellieri, the Ducali pushed forward early. Mihaila had a golden chance to open the scoring, but Venezia goalkeeper Dejan Stankovic began his heroic performance by denying him with a stunning save.
The game’s turning point came in the 20th minute when Mandela Keita clumsily brought down Yeboah in the box, gifting Venezia a penalty. Joel Pohjanpalo stepped up and confidently converted, silencing the Tardini crowd and putting Venezia ahead, 1-0.
Parma responded with urgency, creating multiple chances through Hernani and Mihaila, but Stankovic repeatedly came to the rescue. Frustration grew for Fabio Pecchia’s side as the half-time whistle blew with Venezia clinging to their narrow lead.
Second Half: Parma Fights Back
Pecchia made bold changes at the break, introducing Camara, Bonny, and Man to inject energy and creativity into the Parma attack. The substitutions paid off almost immediately. Camara’s dynamic presence lifted the team, and his relentless runs caused chaos in the Venezia defense.
The decisive moment came in the 56th minute when Camara drew a foul from Candela inside the box. Hernani stepped up to the spot and coolly converted the penalty, leveling the match at 1-1. It was Hernani’s third successful penalty of the season, cementing his reputation as a reliable presence under pressure.
Heroics and Heartbreak
Parma poured on the pressure in search of a winner, but Stankovic stood firm. The Venezia goalkeeper produced a series of jaw-dropping saves, including a spectacular effort to deny Hernani’s 74th-minute free kick that seemed destined for the top corner.
Venezia briefly thought they had stolen all three points when Oristanio dazzled with a brilliant solo run and found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside in the build-up. The Lagunari held their ground in the final minutes, with Stankovic once again denying efforts from Valenti and Camara.
Post-Match Analysis
While Parma remains in mid-table with 20 points, their inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities in key matches is becoming a worrying trend. Venezia, still second-to-last in the standings with 15 points, will take solace in a gritty defensive display and the world-class performance of Stankovic.
Key Performances
- Dejan Stankovic (Venezia, 7/10): The clear Man of the Match, Stankovic’s string of incredible saves ensured Venezia escaped with a point. If Venezia manages to avoid relegation, much of the credit will belong to their in-form keeper.
- Camara (Parma, 6.5/10): A game-changer off the bench, Camara’s energy and creativity sparked Parma’s attack and earned the crucial penalty.
- Hernani (Parma, 6.5/10): Calm and composed from the penalty spot, Hernani continues to shine as Parma’s midfield leader, though his overall contribution was marred by minor errors in distribution.
- Candela (Venezia, 5/10): Despite a solid first half, his clumsy foul on Camara was a turning point that cost Venezia a chance at victory.
What’s Next?
Parma must find consistency in converting chances if they are to challenge for promotion. Venezia, on the other hand, will hope to build on this result and climb out of the relegation zone. With 17 matches left in the season, every point matters, and this hard-fought draw could be a turning point for both teams.
