Roma far from convincing in 2-1 win over Bologna in Serie A

Roma beat relegation-threatened Bologna 2-1 in Serie A on Monday to stay firmly in the race for a Champions League place, but the victory was far from convincing.

Each goal was scored in the second half, with Aleksandar Kolarov scoring a penalty and Federico Fazio doubling the lead for Roma before Bologna pulled one back through Nicola Sansone.

Roma moved back to within one point of AC Milan, which occupies the fourth and final Champions League qualifying spot. It is also three points clear of Atalanta and city rival Lazio, which both lost during the weekend.

Roma's Aleksandar Kolarov, left, scores a goal from a penalty against Bologna, during Italian Serie A soccer match between AS Roma and Bologna FC at Olimpico stadium in Rome, Italy, Monday Feb. 18, 2019. (Maurizio BrambattiANSA via AP)

Bologna remained in the bottom three, three points from safety.

Roma struggled in the first half and had goalkeeper Robin Olsen to thank for keeping the scoreline goalless, while Bologna midfielder Roberto Soriano also hit the crossbar on the stroke of halftime.

But Roma broke the deadlock 10 minutes after the break when Filip Helander bundled over Stephan El Shaarawy in the area and Kolarov fired the resulting spot kick into the bottom right corner.

Roma's Niccol' Zaniolo, right, in action during Italian Serie A soccer match between AS Roma and Bologna FC at Olimpico stadium in Rome, Italy, Monday Feb. 18, 2019. (Maurizio BrambattiANSA via AP)

Fazio doubled Roma's lead in the 73rd minute after a corner had been nodded on by Daniele De Rossi.

Bologna set up a tense final six minutes when Sansone cut in from the left and skipped past several defenders before curling into the bottom right corner.

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Roma's coach Eusebio Di Francesco, left, with Bologna's coach Sinisa Mihajlovic during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AS Roma and Bologna FC at Olimpico stadium in Rome, Italy, Monday Feb. 18, 2019. (Maurizio BrambattiANSA via AP)

Roma's Edin Dzeko in action against Bologna, during Italian Serie A soccer match between AS Roma and Bologna FC at Olimpico stadium in Rome, Italy, Monday Feb. 18, 2019. (Maurizio BrambattiANSA via AP)

Bologna's Roberto Soriano, 2nd right, in action against Roma during Italian Serie A soccer match between AS Roma and Bologna FC at Olimpico stadium in Rome, Italy, Monday Feb. 18, 2019. (Maurizio BrambattiANSA via AP)

Federico Bernardeschi scored against his former club as Juventus beat Fiorentina 2-0 on Wednesday to set up an Italian Cup final against Inter Milan.

After Fiorentina goalkeeper Bartłomiej Drągowski failed to intercept a cross, Bernardeschi controlled the ball with his chest then volleyed in shortly after the half-hour mark.

Danilo sealed it in stoppage time after being set up by Juan Cuadrado.

Juventus' Matthijs de Ligt, left, and Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

Aiming to defend its title, Juventus advanced on 3-0 aggregate.

Defending Serie A champion Inter beat city rival AC Milan 3-0 on Tuesday to advance.

Juventus has won the Italian Cup a record 14 times, while Inter has seven trophies in the competition — the last from 2011.

Juventus' Adrien Rabiot, right, and Fiorentina's Jonathan Ikone battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

The final is scheduled for May 11.

Juventus also had a goal from Adrien Rabiot wiped off for offside following a VAR check.

SALERNITANA SUCCESS

An injury-time winner earned Salernitana a 1-0 win at Udinese in Serie A, keeping the southern club’s hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic, left, and Fiorentina's Alfred Duncan battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

Having won at Sampdoria on Saturday, it marked the first time this season that Salernitana posted consecutive victories.

Substitute Simone Verdi finished off a counterattack three minutes into stoppage time.

The bottom three clubs — Venezia, Salernitana and Genoa — are now level on points, each six points from safety.

Juventus' Matthijs de Ligt, left, and Fiorentina's Arthur Cabral battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

The match was postponed four months ago amid a coronavirus outbreak within Salernitana’s squad.

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