Mauricio Pinilla brace earns Atalanta draw with Cesena

Atalanta BC scored a late equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw with Cesena, with all goals coming in the second half in their Serie A clash this evening.

Chances were few and far between in the first half, with Maximiliano Moralez coming closest for the visitors with a shot from close range after a cut-back set the defender up, but his effort was deflected behind.

It did not take Atalanta long to break the deadlock after the break though, as Mauricio Pinilla pounced on a rebound after Alejandro Gomez had an effort blocked.

The hosts needed just six minutes to level the scores as Yohan Benalouane brought Franco Brienza down in the box, leaving the striker to rifle the ball in from the penalty spot.

Luka Krajnc missed a chance to put the hosts ahead for the first time when he tried to tap in from a cross, but Carlos Carbonero was there to fire it back in from the edge of the box after Luigi Giorgi quickly won it back, squeezing the ball in at the near post.

Moralez looked for the equaliser when the visitors had a free kick in a dangerous position, coming forward to try to drive it in on the half-volley from the edge of the box, but his finish was just wide.

Pinilla was on target a couple of minutes later though, slicing it in from a rebound after Marc D'Alessandro saw his effort turned away.

Gabriele Perico could have sealed all three points for Cesena, but he hurried his shot after controlling a cross in from out wide, blasting the ball high of the bar to ensure that the sides finished level.

Cesena remain in the bottom three despite picking up a point, while Atalanta move six points clear of the drop zone.