Cesena 2-2 Atalanta

Mauricio Pinilla equalised eight minutes from time as Atalanta drew 2-2 at Cesena to clinch a vital point to boost their survival bid.Pinilla, returning after serving a three-match suspension, had put Atalanta ahead in the 50th minute.Cesena midfielder Franco Brienza equalised six minutes later from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Atalanta defender Yohan Benalouane.Carlos Carbonero put Cesena in front in the 70th minute but the hosts could not hold on to their lead and gave away a late goal.The outcome at the Dino Manuzzi stadium extended Atalanta's unbeaten run to four games and lifted the Bergamaschi, who hold the last position of safety, eight points clear of the drop zone with five games remaining.Cesena are 19th in the standings, level on 24 points with Cagliari, who are 18th.Atalanta went into the contest without their top scorer German Denis, who began serving a five-match ban on Wednesday.Denis was punished for punching Empoli defender Lorenzo Tonelli immediately after last weekend's match between the sides.Maximiliano Moralez was first to test Federico Agliardi with a 30-yard attempt which the Cesena goalkeeper kept out in the eighth minute.Cesena's Davide Succi then forced Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello into his first save with a hard drive from outside the area.Both sides were limited to long-distance shooting and on the stroke of half-time Carbonero got past his marker and drilled a right-footed attempt from 25 yards that was kept out by Sportiello.Atalanta looked more lively in the second half and broke the deadlock in the 50th minute.Agliardi failed to clear Luca Cigarini's free-kick and Pinilla was on hand to strike the ball from 12 yards into the back of the net.Atalanta's joy was short-lived as Cesena pulled level when Brienza struck a spot-kick towards the near post and out of Sportiello's reach.The goal inspired the hosts who went in front on 70 minutes.Sportiello could do nothing as Luigi Giorgi set up Carbonero just outside the area and his powerful right-footed shot found the top left corner of goal.The visitors continued to battle and were rewarded.Substitute Marco D'Alessandro's attempt was deflected into the path of Pinilla and the Chilean forward struck an overhead kick from 15 yards to beat Agliardi.ends