Parma held by Bologna

Parma spurned the chance to move into the top seven of Serie A after being held at home to a 1-1 draw by Bologna.

Parma spurned the chance to move into the top seven of Serie A after being held at home by a Bologna side who played almost the entire second half with a man less. Bologna took a 10th-minute lead through Panagiotis Kone, but Parma quickly levelled thanks to Antonio Cassano and they looked firm favourites to go on and claim the three points when visiting defender Frederik Sorensen was dismissed eight minutes into the second half. Despite that advantage, Parma could not find a winner and they missed the opportunity to leap-frog Lazio and Genoa into the top seven. Bologna, meanwhile, remain in the bottom four after recording their third draw in their last four matches. The visitors had only claimed two league wins coming into the match, but they gave themselves a chance of recording a third thanks to Kone's superb early opener. Rolando Bianchi's perfect pass created the opportunity for his team-mate, who produced a finish to match as he lashed home a fantastic 25-yard volley into the top corner of the net. Bologna were only ahead for 15 minutes though before Cassano drew the teams level. The much-travelled striker almost netted in the 19th minute with a right-footed effort that skimmed the woodwork, but he was not to be denied four minutes later with a thumping finish into the roof of the net. Both sides had chances to net again before the break but Parma keeper Antonio Mirante tipped over Lazaros Christodoulopoulos' shot and Cassano fired just over as the half finished without any addition to the scoreline. Bologna's hopes of getting anything out of the game looked to have suffered a major blow when Sorensen was given his marching orders at the start of the second half after picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Nicola Sansone. However, despite creating four decent openings, Parma could not find a way through for the winner. Visiting goalkeeper Gianluca Curci did well to keep our efforts from Mattia Cassani and Sansone before Marco Marchionni missed a gilt-edged chance as the match entered stoppage time when he fired wide from close range. Parma, who survived a brief scare when Kone's late free-kick skimmed the crossbar, had one last opportunity after that but substitute Amauri headed Cassano's cross over.