Durosinmi's Late Header Rescues Vital Point for Struggling Pisa Against Atalanta

PISA, ITALY — Rafiu Durosinmi’s 87th-minute header snatched a precious and hard-earned point for relegation-threatened Pisa in a 1-1 draw with Atalanta at the Arena Garibaldi - Stadio Romeo Anconetani. The result, coming after Nikola Krstovic’s 83rd-minute opener for the visitors, felt like a victory for the 19th-placed Nerazzurri, who showed tremendous resilience to fight back against a side sitting ten places and eleven points above them in the Serie A table. The match was a classic tale of possession versus penetration, with Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta enjoying the majority of the ball at 57.3% but ultimately being punished for failing to kill off a game they led for just four frantic minutes.

The decisive moments of this encounter were compressed into a breathtaking final ten minutes that completely transformed the narrative. After a match where clear chances were at a premium, the deadlock was finally broken by Atalanta substitute Nikola Krstovic. The forward, who had entered the fray in the 70th minute, demonstrated razor-sharp instincts in the 83rd minute, pouncing on a loose ball in the six-yard box to rifle a right-footed shot from very close range into the top left corner, leaving Pisa goalkeeper Simone Scuffet with no chance. The goal seemed destined to condemn Pisa to a damaging defeat, but the home side’s spirit, fueled by a series of impactful substitutions, refused to be broken. Just four minutes later, Pisa’s own super-sub delivered. Mehdi Léris, another late introduction, received possession on the left flank and delivered a pinpoint cross into the heart of the penalty area. There, Rafiu Durosinmi, who had also come off the bench, rose highest to guide a powerful header into the bottom right corner, sending the home supporters into raptures and securing a massively valuable point.

The tactical battle throughout was defined by Atalanta’s control of possession against Pisa’s directness and set-piece threat. Atalanta, typically associated with high-octane attacking football, controlled the tempo through midfield orchestrators Marten de Roon and Mario Pasalic, but often found their progress stifled by Pisa’s compact defensive blocks. The home side, under clear instruction, were happy to cede territory and instead looked to hit on the counter-attack or capitalize on their significant set-piece advantage. Pisa’s pressure yielded 10 corners throughout the match, a constant source of danger that kept Atalanta’s defense, marshaled by Isak Hien and Giorgio Scalvini, under sustained pressure. The midfield duel between Pisa’s Idrissa Touré and Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere was particularly engrossing, with Touré’s physicality often clashing with De Ketelaere’s technical creativity.

By the numbers, the story of Pisa’s effective game plan is clearly told. Despite Atalanta’s possession dominance, it was the hosts who created the greater volume of danger, outshooting their opponents 14 to 9 and landing more shots on target, 6 to 4. Atalanta’s goalkeeper, Marco Carnesecchi, was called into action five times, including a spectacular save to deny Gabriele Piccinini in the 76th minute, highlighting his importance in preserving a point for his side. Pisa’s Simone Scuffet made three crucial saves of his own, most notably from Giorgio Scalvini in the 57th minute. The corner count of 10-1 in Pisa’s favor underscores their more direct and physically imposing approach, while the disciplined nature of the contest was reflected in a nearly even foul count (12-11) and just three yellow cards shown.

The true turning point arrived not with a goal, but with a triple substitution by Pisa manager Luca D’Angelo in the 68th minute. Introducing Gabriele Piccinini, Rafiu Durosinmi, and Mehdi Léris injected fresh energy, directness, and a new attacking dimension into a Pisa side that had struggled to test Carnesecchi consistently. Piccinini immediately forced a superb save, while Léris and Durosinmi combined directly for the equalizer. This bold managerial move shifted momentum palpably, transforming Pisa from a team clinging on to one aggressively chasing the game. Conversely, Atalanta’s own substitutions, including the introduction of goal-scorer Krstovic, initially appeared masterful but ultimately could not withstand the renewed onslaught from a revitalized opponent in the closing stages. The atmosphere, which had grown tense after Atalanta’s goal, was reignited by D’Angelo’s changes, proving the value of proactive management.

Looking ahead, both teams face stern tests that will define their respective seasons. Pisa will need to harness the confidence from this resilient performance when they host league giants Internazionale at the Arena Garibaldi on January 23, a monumental task but one they will approach with renewed belief. Atalanta, meanwhile, must quickly regroup from dropping two points here as they turn their attention to continental competition, traveling to face Athletic Club in a crucial encounter on January 21. For Pisa, this point could be a vital building block in their fight for survival, proving they can compete with and hurt teams in the top half of the table. For Atalanta, the draw represents another stumble in an inconsistent campaign, raising questions about their ability to close out games and convert territorial dominance into maximum points as they remain adrift in the mid-table region.