Torino's Nicolas Nkoulou, left, kneels as he celebrates with his teammate Andrea Belotti after scoring his side's opening goal, during the Serie A soccer match between Torino and Parma, at the Olympic Stadium in Turin, Italy, Saturday, June 20, 2020. Serie A restarts Saturday following the easing of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with matches being played without spectators because of the coronavirus lockdown. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press
MILAN (AP) - The first Serie A goal in 103 days was marked by scorer Nicolas Nkoulou taking a knee as the Italian league resumed with tributes for the country's healthcare workers and victims of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nkoulou, who is Black, took a knee in a show of support for the Black Lives Matter movement and in honor of George Floyd after heading in Torino's opener in the 15th minute.
Torino went on to draw 1-1 with Parma in the first Serie A game since the league was shut down more than three months ago amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Torino players wore a special kit with a message for healthcare workers on the players' jerseys: 'œThank you to all the heroes.'ť
There was also a minute's silence before kickoff in tribute to those who have died in the pandemic.
Italy has been one of the hardest hit countries by the coronavirus, with nearly 35,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19. It was also the first country in Europe to shut down its soccer league on March 9.
Serie A is resuming this weekend with four catchup matches, in empty stadiums. Hellas Verona beat Cagliari 2-1 in the late match. On Sunday Atalanta hosts Sassuolo and Inter Milan welcomes Sampdoria.
In Turin, Juraj Kucka leveled for Parma in the 31st. Torino should have restored its advantage three minutes into the second half when it was awarded a penalty following a foul by Simone Iacoponi on Simone Edera.
However, Parma goalkeeper Luigi Sepe saved Andrea Belotti's spot kick.
Torino, which had lost its previous six league matches before the shutdown, moved three points above the relegation zone.
Parma moved up to eighth, two points below Verona and three off a European spot.
LATE DEBUT
Walter Zenga finally got his debut on the Cagliari bench in an eventful match which saw two players sent off.
Zenga replaced Rolando Maran as coach on March 3 but had to wait for his first game in charge because of the shutdown.
Samuel Di Carmine scored twice for Verona in the first half before forward Fabio Borini was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Cagliari midfielder Marko Rog.
Giovanni Simeone pulled one back for Cagliari two minutes before the break but the visiting team also had a player sent off when midfielder Luca Cigarini was shown a second yellow 20 minutes from time.
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Players observe a minute of silence to honor the victims of coronavirus, prior to the Serie A soccer match between Torino and Parma, at the Olympic Stadium in Turin, Italy, Saturday, June 20, 2020. Serie A restarts Saturday following the easing of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with matches being played without spectators because of the coronavirus lockdown. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press
The stands are empty ahead of the Serie A soccer match between Torino and Parma, at the Olympic Stadium in Turin, Italy, Saturday, June 20, 2020. Serie A restarts Saturday with matches being played without spectators because of the coronavirus lockdown. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press
Torino's Armando Izzo, left, challenges Parma's Gervinho, during the Serie A soccer match between Torino and Parma, at the Olympic Stadium in Turin, Italy, Saturday, June 20, 2020. Serie A restarts Saturday following the easing of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with matches being played without spectators because of the coronavirus lockdown. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press
Torino's Andrea Belotti, right, and Parma's Matteo Darmian vie for the ball during the Serie A soccer match between Torino and Parma, at the Olympic Stadium in Turin, Italy, Saturday, June 20, 2020. Serie A restarts Saturday following the easing of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with matches being played without spectators because of the coronavirus lockdown. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press
Hellas Verona's Samuel Di Carmine (10) celebrates his goal with teammates during a Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Cagliari, at the Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium in Verona, Italy, Saturday, June 20, 2020. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press
Cagliari's Giovanni Simeone, right, celebrates his goal with teammates during a Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Cagliari, at the Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium in Verona, Italy, Saturday, June 20, 2020. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press