Rome, May 14, 2022 (AFP) - Salernitana missed the chance to claim almost guaranteed Serie A survival on Saturday after Diego Perotti had a late penalty saved in a 1-1 draw at Empoli which also sent down bottom team Venezia.

Perotti's spot-kick was pushed aside by man-of-the-match Guglielmo Vicario, who made a series of superb saves to stop Salernitana from gaining a win which would have moved them four points clear of the relegation zone ahead of their rivals matches this weekend.

Davide Nicola's team sit 17th and two points ahead of Cagliari, who are just inside the drop zone and face title-chasing Inter Milan in Sunday's late match.

The draw is a not a dreadful result as Cagliari must beat reigning champions Inter to move out of trouble in place of Salernitana.

Before their current run of four wins and three draws, Salernitana had been rooted to the bottom of Serie A the whole season.

And Federico Bonazzoli sent the 7,000 away fans wild in the 76th minute when he levelled Patrick Cutrone's first-half opener for the home side.

That goal also means that Genoa, who are three points back in 19th, cannot overtake Salernitana even if they win at Napoli as they have the worse of the head-to-head record which decides placings for teams locked on the same points.

Venezia are a further three points behind and in Serie B ahead of their match at Roma later on Saturday.