Cagliari 2-2 Catania

Cagliari equalised five minutes after going down to 10 men to halt their losing streak against struggling Catania.

Substitute Andrea Cossu, who made his Italy debut in the goalless friendly draw with Cameroon in midweek, ended a memorable week in style, making it 2-2 after Michele Canini had picked up his second yellow card as the home side ended a run of two straight 2-1 defeats.

Andrea Lazzari had put the Sardinians in front with a 30-yard free-kick, but two goals in four minutes from Giuseppe Mascara with a penalty and Maxi Lopez turned the game on its head before half-time.

Catania coach Sinisa Mihajlovic had urged his side to build on their 4-0 thrashing of Bari last weekend in the build-up to the match and they made a positive start, Cristian Llama's dangerous cross being cleared by Canini.

But after nine minutes they were behind.

Llama brought down Lazzari 30 yards from goal and the midfielder took full advantage by sending a glorious strike past Mariano Andujar.

Catania threatened an immediate response, Jeda's header clear from Mascara's corner only going as far as Mariano Izco, whose fierce shot from range was just off target.

An offside against Alessandro Agostini then let Catania off the hook following a decent Cagliari attack, but the complexion of the game changed in four minutes just after the half-hour.

In the 31st minute Canini was penalised for holding Jorge Andres Martinez, who had come on for Llama after just 10 minutes, and Mascara converted the resulting spot-kick.

And in the 35th minute Maxi Lopez picked up the ball outside the area before advancing into the box and rounding Marchetti to score into an empty net.

Cagliari coach Massimiliano Allegri, looking to keep alive his side's hopes of finishing in the Europa League places following their recent poor run, threw on Cossu in the 57th minute.

And he almost had a immediate impact, speeding past Alessandro Potenza before sending in a cross to the back post which Alessandro Matri could only meet with a weak header.

But a third 2-1 reverse in a row looked on the cards when Canini picked up a second booking in the 69th minute.

Martinez then fired acrobatically over the bar with a bicycle kick, but in the 74th minute the 10 men were level.

Davide Biondini swung in a cross from the right which was touched home instantly by the lively Cossu.

Catania piled forward in the closing stages in search of just a third away win of the season, but Cagliari held firm to claim a point.