Parma Calcio 1913 saw their winning streak halted after being held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Cagliari Calcio side on Friday night.
Coming off an impressive victory over AC Milan at San Siro, Parma entered the contest brimming with confidence and hoping to extend their run of consecutive wins.
However, Cagliari arrived with a clear plan and executed it with discipline, ensuring the hosts had to settle for just a point.
The first half offered glimpses of promise from both teams but little in terms of clear-cut chances.
Parma’s Mateo Pellegrino looked sharp in attack and nearly broke the deadlock in the 39th minute, forcing a strong save from Elia Caprile with a fierce effort from close range.
At the other end, Marco Palestra and Sebastiano Esposito threatened sporadically on the counter, yet neither side managed to truly test the opposing goalkeeper before the interval.
Seeking greater control, Parma coach Carlos Cuesta reshuffled his side at the break, introducing Gaetano Oristanio and Hans Nicolussi Caviglia.
Despite the changes, it was Cagliari who found the breakthrough.
Just moments after coming on, Michael Folorunsho made an instant impact in the 63rd minute.
Picking up possession outside the area, he unleashed a stunning strike into the top corner, leaving Edoardo Corvi rooted to the spot.
It was a goal of remarkable quality and looked set to secure all three points for the visitors.
Parma, though, refused to fold. Their persistence paid off seven minutes from time when Oristanio reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the penalty area, calmly slotting into the bottom corner to restore parity and ignite celebrations among the home supporters.
Both sides pushed for a late winner in an increasingly frantic finale, with injuries to Esposito and Emanuele Valeri disrupting the rhythm. In the end, neither team could find the decisive touch.
While Parma may rue the missed chance to continue their winning momentum, Cagliari will draw confidence from a determined display that earned them a valuable point on the road.
