Serie A - Unstoppable Dzemaili Volley saves the Day for Bologna

The Swiss international and former Impact midfielder Blerim Dzemaili launched an unstoppable and spectacular right foot volley from 10 yards to secure an unlikely point for Bologna, in front of watching president Joey Saputo, this afternoon.

Visitors Parma looked like they’d weathered the storm and were seeing out the game for a valuable 2-1 road victory in their chase for a European place.

Four minutes added time had already elapsed when the Rossoblu won a corner. Still no final whistle. The kick was headed back across goal by Nuhuen Paz and Dzemaili, who has few peers when it comes to striking a football sweetly, did just that.

Sepe in the Parma goal simply didn’t smell it, his desperate reaction too late to intercept the rocket. He should probably feel relief his head didn’t get in the way.

It was Dzemaili’s first goal of the season and equals his Serie A tally from each of the last two seasons.

After a reasonable start to their campaign, Saputo’s team has been treading water more recently. But for Dzemaili’s late, late intervention, Parma would have inflicted Bologna’s fourth Serie A defeat in a row, something that hasn’t happened since May 2018.

Photo by Mario Carlini / Iguana Press/Getty Images

It was the second time they’d come from behind in the game, Argentine veteran and top-scorer Rodrigo Palacio (40 mins), equalizing Dejan Kulusevski’s opening goal (17 mins).

Defender Simone Iacoponi had restored Parma’s lead in the 71st min, a goal that looked like securing the points until minute 95.

The draw consolidates Bologna in 15th place in the table. They need to begin recording victories, only one in their last ten Serie A games, if a relegation battle similar to last season is to be avoided.

Next weekend they travel to Stadio San Paolo to face Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli.