Cornelius strikes late for Parma to frustrate Cagliari

Enrico Locci, getty

Andreas Cornelius's last-gasp header grabbed a 2-2 draw for Parma to further frustrate Cagliari on Saturday in a clash between rivals for Europa League qualification.

The Danish forward nodded in a curling Jasmin Kurtic cross in the 94th minute to deny Cagliari a first league win since December 2.

The Sardinians remain sixth, in the final Europa League berth, but Parma are level on points and only behind on head-to-head record.

Both can be overtaken by in-form AC Milan, who are a point adrift before hosting Hellas Verona on Sunday.

Cagliari had looked set to end their two-month winless run after Giovanni Simeone put the hosts 2-1 up after 53 minutes.

Simeone had also provided the assist for Joao Pedro's opening goal on 19 minutes at the Sardegna Arena.

But Juraj Kucka levelled for Parma just before the break with Brazilian Pedro missing a penalty in the second half.

Simeone slid to tap in Luca Pellegrini's low cross and give the hosts the advantage, but Cornelius snatched a point with his eighth league goal this season.

The Sardinians are on a run of four defeats and four draws from their last eight league outings, including last weekend's stalemate at title-chasing Inter Milan.

The European battle remains tight with Bologna two points behind in ninth after snatching a 2-1 win over rock-bottom Brescia.

Mattia Bani got the winner a minute from time to hand Sinisa Mihajlovic's side their first win of 2020, with the Serb making a rare appearance on the bench as he undergoes cancer treatment.

Ernesto Torregrossa had put Brescia ahead from the penalty spot on 36 minutes, but Riccardo Orsolini grabbed the equaliser just before the break.

Bani slotted in his fourth goal of the season to seal a first win since December 15.

Roma travel to Sassuolo on Saturday trying to hold on to the final Champions League berth ahead of Atalanta, one point behind, who host Genoa on Sunday.

Also on Sunday, reigning champions Juventus face Fiorentina with second-placed Inter Milan, three points off the pace, travelling to Udinese, looking to end their run of three successive 1-1 draws.

Lazio have a chance to close the gap as they sit just five points behind Juventus and two adrift of Inter, with a game in hand, before hosting struggling SPAL.