Verona salvage stalemate

Hellas Verona came from two goals down to salvage a point from a 2-2 draw at home to Genoa on Wednesday evening.

Two goals from Alessandro Matri seemed set to earn Genoa all three points at the Stadio Bentegodi, but Panagiotis Tachtsidis and Artur Ionita rescued Hellas a point and salvaged their unbeaten record this season.

The point keeps Andrea Mandorlini's men in fifth place with Genoa still three points further behind in eighth.

Former Genoa forward Luca Toni had the first big chance of the game on the half hour, but he missed the target after working himself into a promising position.

Mattia Perin did not have to intervene on that occasion, but he was finding himself increasingly involved in the action, keeping Genoa in the game until Matri headed them in front in the 34th minute from Marchese's cross.

Perin then made two more excellent saves, first from Javier Saviola and then from Ionita, who was denied a second goal in as many games.

A mistake by Rafael Marquez let Matri in to make it 2-0 for the visitors early in the second half, and the former Cagliari, AC Milan and Juventus forward could have completed his hat-trick moments after.

That miss spurred Hellas into action and they pulled a goal back through Tachtsidis five minutes later when he beat Perin with a low shot from the edge of the area.

Ionita then did get his name on the scoresheet to level in the 64th minute with a header from Toni's cross from just level with the penalty spot.

There were chances at both ends to win it, Matri missing the best in the final minute, but he sent his shot into the crowd from an excellent position.