Catanzaro Grabs Stoppage-Time Draw at Benevento After Medical Scare

Catanzaro salvaged a dramatic 1-1 draw against Benevento at the Stadio Ciro Vigorito on Tuesday evening, with substitute Nicolò Buso striking in second-half stoppage time. The hard-fought Serie B clash, which was delayed by nearly a quarter of an hour due to a medical emergency on the sideline before kickoff, saw the hosts take the lead through a Francesco Salvemini penalty before conceding late to settle for a frustrating share of the spoils.

The evening began in an atmosphere of intense tension when Catanzaro forward Gabriel Arditi collapsed prior to the scheduled 7:00 p.m. kickoff. The 2006-born striker reportedly lost his footing while heading down toward the dugout, striking his head and hurting his shoulder before briefly losing consciousness near the team bench. Paramedics and stadium medical personnel rushed onto the pitch to administer immediate care. Arditi regained consciousness within moments and was able to leave the field under his own power amid warm applause from the crowd, though he was subsequently transported to a local hospital for precautionary examinations.

Because of the emergency treatment and lineup adjustment—with Franck Tchaouna replacing Arditi among the reserves—the referee delayed kickoff by roughly 14 to 15 minutes. The fixture also carried emotional weight along the technical areas, as Catanzaro was playing its first game under new manager Michele Mignani, who took charge just 24 hours earlier following the dismissal of Giorgio Gorgone after a crushing 6-1 home defeat against Ascoli. Adding to the drama, Mignani found himself coaching against his son, Guglielmo Mignani, who featured as a second-half substitute for Benevento.

Once the action got underway, both teams took a cautious approach during an evenly contested opening period. Benevento, guided by Antonio Floro Flores, gradually grew into the game and fashioned the clearest opportunity of the first half in the 23rd minute when Christian Kouan drove into the penalty area, only to drag his right-footed effort wide of the target. Catanzaro remained defensively organized, restricting clear openings and ensuring the sides went into the halftime interval scoreless.

The second half started with immediate fireworks as Benevento seized the initiative. Forward Francesco Salvemini rose to meet a Mattia Maita cross, glancing a header that struck the outside of the post. While play initially continued, the referee was summoned to the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee to review an incident inside the box, where Catanzaro defender Antonio Candela had stepped on Luigi Cherubini. Referee Alberto Poli awarded a penalty, and Salvemini coolly stepped up to beat goalkeeper Mirko Pigliacelli from the spot six minutes into the period.

Benevento pushed to extend its advantage and put the contest out of reach, but a series of squandered chances kept the visitors within striking distance. Salvemini had two further openings to double the lead, first miscuing an attempt set up by Antonios Siatounis and later sending a low drive off target on a breakaway. Guglielmo Mignani also had an opportunity to score against his father's team after being played through by Cherubini in the 74th minute, but his angled shot flew wide of the frame.

Benevento ultimately paid the price for its profligacy in the 92nd minute. Despite Catanzaro offering minimal threat against goalkeeper Gianmarco Vannucchi throughout the second half, a late aerial delivery caused confusion inside the penalty area. The loose ball dropped kindly for Buso, who pounced amid the scramble to nudge home the equalizer. The late goal denied the home side a chance to cement its position in the upper playoff bracket, while handing bottom-place Catanzaro an invaluable point and a vital boost of confidence under its new manager in front of 6,212 spectators.