Đurić scores twice as Monza hits Lazio's Champions League hopes in 2-2 draw. Inter loses at Sassuolo

MILAN (AP) — Milan Đurić scored twice, including a stoppage-time equalizer, as Monza held Lazio 2-2 in Serie A on Saturday to hinder the capital club’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

The result ended Lazio’s four-match winning run and left Igor Tudor’s side seventh, three points behind Roma, which occupies fifth place and the final Champions League qualifying position after Italy earned an extra spot in next season’s competition.

Sixth-place Atalanta is only a point ahead of Lazio but has played two fewer matches.

At the other end of the table, relegation-threatened Sassuolo recorded a surprise — but crucial — 1-0 victory over newly crowned Serie A champion Inter Milan.

Things appeared to be going to plan for Lazio when it took the lead in the 11th minute. Monza goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio did brilliantly to palm Daichi Kamada’s deflected strike onto the bar but Ciro Immobile tapped in the rebound.

It was the Lazio captain’s first goal since February.

Monza went close several times and equalized in the 73rd when Đurić fired in the rebound after a great save by Christos Mandas to parry Giulio Donati’s header. The goal was initially ruled out for offside but that decision was overturned by the video assistant referee.

Donati went from hero to villain 10 minutes later as his woeful back pass was intercepted by Matías Vecino, who fired past a stranded Di Gregorio and into an empty net to restore Lazio’s lead.

However, Đurić headed in Matteo Pessina’s cross in the second minute of stoppage time.

RARE LOSS

Inter, which won its 20th Serie A title last month, endured only its second league defeat of the season. Its only other loss, back in September, was also against Sassuolo.

Armand Laurienté returned from suspension and his 20th-minute strike was enough to give Sassuolo its second win in its last 16 matches.

Lautaro Martínez thought he had equalized on the stroke of halftime but it was ruled out by VAR for offside.

Sassuolo moved to within two points of safety, just below Hellas Verona, Frosinone and Empoli which are all on the same number of points.

Empoli will host Frosinone on Sunday, and Verona plays Fiorentina.

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Sassuolo's Kristian Thorstvedt is chased by Inter's Lautaro Martinez during the Italia Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Inter Milan, Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia. (Gianni Santandrea/LaPresse via AP)

Sassuolo's Gian Marco Ferrari, right, jumps for the ball with Inter's Lautaro Martinez during the Italia Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Inter Milan, Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia. (Gianni Santandrea/LaPresse via AP)

Monza's Milan Đurić celebrates after scoring his side's first goal of the game during the Serie A soccer match between Monza and Lazio at the U-Power Stadium in Monza, Italy, Saturday May 4 , 2024. (Alberto Mariani/LaPresse via AP)

Lazio's Matías Vecino celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Serie A soccer match between Monza and Lazio at the U-Power Stadium in Monza, Italy, Saturday May 4 , 2024. (Alberto Mariani/LaPresse via AP)

Lazio's Ciro Immobile celebrates after scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Serie A soccer match between Monza and Lazio at the U-Power Stadium in Monza, Italy, Saturday May 4 , 2024. (Alberto Mariani/LaPresse via AP)

Lazio's Ciro Immobile scores his side's first goal of the game during the Serie A soccer match between Monza and Lazio at the U-Power Stadium in Monza, Italy, Saturday May 4 , 2024. (Alberto Mariani/LaPresse via AP)

Monza's Milan Đurić celebrates after scoring his side's first goal of the game during the Serie A soccer match between Monza and Lazio at the U-Power Stadium in Monza, Italy, Saturday May 4 , 2024. (Alberto Mariani/LaPresse via AP)

French security forces reported another death Saturday in armed clashes in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia, the sixth fatality in a nearly a week of violent unrest wracking the archipelago whose indigenous population has long sought independence.

The person was killed in an exchange of fire at one of the many impromptu barricades blocking roads on the island, said a security official speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the situation publicly. Two other people were seriously injured in the clash, the official said, confirming French media reports. The official said the firefight erupted at a blockade in the north of the main island, at Kaala-Gomen.

Le Monde and other French news outlets said the person killed was a man and that his son was among the injured.

Two police officers were among those who died earlier this week in the unrest that has prompted the government in Paris to impose a state of emergency on the archipelago and rush in reinforcements for security services battling armed clashes, looting, arson and other mayhem.

The unrest erupted Monday following protests over voting reforms opposed by pro-independence supporters who have long pushed to break free from France.

The French territory of New Caledonia has been rocked by deadly unrest, leading to a state of emergency imposed by Paris. (AP Graphic)

This photo provided Friday May 17, 2024 by the French Army shows security force embarking a plane to New Caledonia, Thursday, May 16, 2024 at the Istres military base, southern France. The number of violent incidents reported in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia fell slightly on Friday, a day after France imposed a state of emergency as 1,000 promised reinforcements for security services were deployed with increased powers to quell unrest in the archipelago that has long sought independence. (Etat Major des Armees via AP)

Smoke rises during protests in Noumea, New Caledonia, Wednesday May 15, 2024. France has imposed a state of emergency in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia. The measures imposed on Wednesday for at least 12 days boost security forces' powers to quell deadly unrest that has left four people dead, erupting after protests over voting reforms. (AP Photo/Nicolas Job)