Venezia and Fiorentina battled to a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Stadio Pierluigi Penzo on Sunday afternoon in a crucial Serie A encounter that saw late drama and a point salvaged for the Flying Donkeys. The match, a key fixture as Venezia desperately fight to avoid relegation and Fiorentina aim for European qualification, unfolded as a captivating contest from the opening whistle. Thomas Henry opened the scoring for Venezia in the 29th minute, converting a penalty after a controversial handball decision against Fiorentina defender Igor Julião. The lead, however, proved short-lived as Giacomo Bonaventura, in fine form this season, equalized for Vincenzo Italiano’s Viola just eight minutes later with a powerful header from a Nicolas González cross, showcasing Fiorentina’s attacking prowess. The second half was a tense affair, characterized by tactical adjustments from both coaches and a flurry of midfield battles. Venezia, spurred on by their passionate home support, pressed for a winner, but Fiorentina remained a constant threat on the counter-attack. The turning point came in the 82nd minute when David Okereke beautifully slotted home, seemingly securing a vital three points for the Lagoon City side and sending the Penzo into raptures. However, the drama wasn’t over. In the fifth minute of added time, with Venezia seemingly heading for a crucial win, Luka Jović rose highest to meet a corner, powering a header past Maël Porel to snatch a draw for Fiorentina, extinguishing Venezia’s hopes of a late surge up the table. The result leaves Venezia still firmly in the relegation zone, two points from safety with only five games remaining, intensifying the pressure on manager Marco Baroni. They face a difficult run-in, needing to capitalize on every opportunity. For Fiorentina, the draw is a setback in their pursuit of a European spot, as they sit eighth in the Serie A standings, three points behind seventh-placed Lazio, and will be disappointed to have conceded so late despite a dominant second-half spell. The game highlighted Venezia’s fighting spirit, but also their frailties in defense, while showcasing Fiorentina’s resilience and quality, particularly the impact of their substitutes. Both teams will undoubtedly analyze this match closely, with significant implications for their respective seasons hanging in the balance as the Serie A campaign enters its crucial final stages. The performance of both Henry and Jović as key goalscorers will be dissected, along with the refereeing decision that led to Venezia’s opening penalty and the ultimately frustrating 2-2 result for both sides.