Torino came from behind to gain a point against Juve Stabia, but with their promotion rivals winning, this game could be viewed as a missed opportunity.
Toro made six changes from the side that were beaten at home by Hellas Verona, as Kamil Glik, Francesco Pratali, Migjen Basha, Juan Surraco, Alessandro Sgrigna and Riccardo Meggiorini came into the starting eleven.
However, those changes didn't seem to work because it was the home side who dominated the early exchanges, with Marco Sau, Horacio Erpen and Mezavilla all having opportunities to score. Juve Stabia should have taken the lead after twenty minutes when Ivano Baldanzeddu cross found Sau, but his header rattled the post.
But Juve Stabia didn't have to wait long to take a deserved lead, as fifteen minutes later Marco Sau finally got the goal he had been threatening all afternoon. Toro failed to adequately clear a free kick, and that gave Erpen room to deliver a looping cross that Sau volleyed into the bottom the corner.
After seemingly being happy with passing the ball amongst the back four, that goal forced Torino to come out of their shell, and they should have equalised immediately. Juan Surraco's weak shot was parried by home keeper Simone Colombi, but somehow, with the goal wide open, Riccardo Meggiorini's shot went straight back to the goalkeeper.
However, five minutes before the break, Torino did get their equaliser when Matteo Darmian's outstanding cross was headed into the net by Alessandro Sgrigna - his seventh of the season.
Torino had the better chances in the second half, and they should have taken the lead when Angelo Ogbonna's wayward shot was diverted goalwards by Kamil Glik, but from just six yards out the, his effort clipped the post. Toro had half chances in the closing stages from Sgrigna and substitute Rolando Bianchi, but they couldn't find what would have been an undeserved winner.
The failure to win this game was obviously a disappointment, but Toro's lacklustre performance for large spells of the match is perhaps more worrying. With their rivals continuing to win, a victory at home to Gubbio next Saturday is of the utmost importance.
Forza Torino
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