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Atalanta are kicking themselves after 10-man Torino came back from 2-0 down after Cesare Natali's dismissal.
An out-of-shape Atalanta were without a win in three going into this game and last season lost this tie 2-1. It meant a lot to Cristiano Doni, though, as he bitterly criticised Toro boss Walter Novellino this week, accusing him of ruining his two years at Sampdoria. Nicola Ventola was facing his former club. Diego De Ascentis and Thomas Manfredini were suspended, while Costinha, Leonardo Talamonti and Alvaro Recoba continued to sit out injuries.
Atalanta had not won this fixture in Serie A since a 1-0 result on March 31, 1996.
Sasa Bjelanovic side-footed inches past the upright and soon after Matteo Sereni scrambled to close down a deflected Antonino Bernardini free kick. Moris Carrozzieri turned a free header over the bar.
Bjelanovic had a goal disallowed for a blatant handling offence, as he punched the cross past Ferdinando Coppola, but he later went off injured in favour of Tommaso Vailatti.
Simone Padoin created a promising opportunity for Riccardo Zampagna, closed down by some desperate Sereni goalkeeping.
The deadlock was broken in first half stoppages. Zampagna threaded through for Ferreira Pinto to spring the offside trap, taking advantage of Salvatore Lanna's slip to thump a rising left-foot strike into the top corner.
Another Bernardini free kick went close in the second half and Cristiano Doni thought he deserved a penalty, but was instead booked for simulation.
The referee did point to the spot on 66 minutes when Ventola shoved Zampagna as he went for the ball. Cesare Natali took his protests too far and earned a second yellow card, while Doni converted the penalty by sending the goalkeeper the wrong way for his fourth goal of the season.
On the counter Doni turned Capelli's cross wide with a glancing header.
Instead, Torino got back into the game when Alessandro Rosina sent Gianluca Comotto running and his cross was met by Ventola's close-range header at the near post.
Incredibly, 10-man Toro completed their comeback! Ventola's header was kept out by Coppola's one-handed save, but former Atalanta man Marco Motta was quickest to react and tap in the loose ball.
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