ALESSANDRIA, Italy (Interstat) — Francesco Nicastro scored twice in the second half to erase a two-goal deficit Sunday, lifting visiting Vis Pesaro 1898 to a 2-2 draw with Juventus Next Gen in Serie C action at Stadio Giuseppe Moccagatta.

Filippo Pagnucco gave Juventus Next Gen the lead in the 14th minute, and Giacomo Faticanti doubled the advantage early in the second half in the 48th minute. But Nicastro pulled one back for Vis Pesaro 1898 in the 53rd minute, then completed the comeback with the equalizer in the 65th minute.

The draw left Juventus Next Gen with a record of nine wins, seven losses and six draws in league play, the same mark across all competitions. Vis Pesaro 1898 moved to eight wins, five losses and eight draws both in Serie C and overall.

The result marked a reversal of fortune from the teams’ most recent meeting March 8, when Vis Pesaro 1898 won 3-1 at Juventus Next Gen. The November 2025 encounter also went Vis Pesaro’s way, a 1-0 victory. Sunday’s match was the third meeting between the sides this season; Vis Pesaro 1898 entered with two wins in the head-to-head series.

Juventus Next Gen came in having won its previous two matches, a 1-0 victory over Guidonia Montecelio FC on April 12 and a 2-1 win at Ternana on April 8. The home side had not lost in its last four league games, a stretch that included a 2-2 draw at AC Perugia Calcio on April 4 and a 2-2 draw with AS Gubbio 1910 on March 21.

Vis Pesaro 1898, meanwhile, had lost two of its previous three matches entering Sunday. The visitors defeated AC Carpi 3-0 on April 12 but fell 2-1 at Ascoli Calcio 1898 FC on April 4 and lost 1-0 at home to AC Perugia Calcio on March 29. The March 8 victory over Juventus Next Gen had provided a bright spot in an otherwise inconsistent stretch that included a 0-0 draw at Guidonia Montecelio FC on March 21 and a 1-0 win over Ternana on March 14.

The first half was largely controlled by Juventus Next Gen. Pagnucco opened the scoring in the 14th minute, finishing a buildup that stretched the Vis Pesaro defense. The home side maintained pressure through the remainder of the half, though Vis Pesaro goalkeeper made several saves to keep the deficit at one.

After halftime, Faticanti struck quickly in the 48th minute to double the lead. But Nicastro responded five minutes later, converting a chance from inside the box to cut the advantage. The same player netted the equalizer in the 65th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to slot home.

Both teams pushed for a winner in the closing stages. Juventus Next Gen created several half-chances, including a free kick from distance that sailed wide in the 78th minute. Vis Pesaro 1898 nearly snatched a late winner in stoppage time when a counterattack ended with a shot saved by the Juventus goalkeeper.

The draw kept Juventus Next Gen in the upper half of the Serie C standings, while Vis Pesaro 1898 remained mid-table. Each side had shown resilience in previous matches. Juventus Next Gen had not lost at home since Feb. 15 against Ravenna FC, while Vis Pesaro 1898 had drawn four of its last six road matches before Sunday.

Sunday’s match marked the final meeting of the regular season between the two clubs. The previous head-to-head results had given Vis Pesaro 1898 a decisive edge, but Juventus Next Gen’s performance in the first hour suggested a shift in momentum before Nicastro’s double intervened.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Vis Pesaro 1898 1, Juventus Next Gen 0. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Juventus Next Gen with a 67.00 percent probability to win.