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Sassuolo beats Verona to go top ahead of Napoli vs. Milan

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Sassuolo beats Verona to go top ahead of Napoli vs. Milan
Sport

Sport

Sassuolo beats Verona to go top ahead of Napoli vs. Milan

2020-11-23 00:29 Last Updated At:00:40

Sassuolo won 2-0 at Hellas Verona to move top of Serie A for a few hours at least, ahead of AC Milan’s match at Napoli later Sunday.

Sassuolo moved a point above Milan and Roma, which beat Parma 3-0. Napoli would move level with those two teams, on 17 points, if it beats Milan.

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Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi scores during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Sassuolo at the Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium in Verona, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (Paola GarbuioLaPresse via AP)

Sassuolo won 2-0 at Hellas Verona to move top of Serie A for a few hours at least, ahead of AC Milan’s match at Napoli later Sunday.

Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi, left, celebrates after scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Sassuolo at the Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium in Verona, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (Paola GarbuioLaPresse via AP)

Verona dominated the match, hitting the woodwork four times. But Sassuolo broke the deadlock three minutes from the interval and against the run of play.

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku, second right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's third goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

INTER COMEBACK

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

His replacement, Simone Zaza, fired Torino in front on the stroke of halftime and Cristian Ansaldi doubled the visitors’ lead in the 62nd from the penalty spot after Ashley Young fouled Wilfried Stephane Singo.

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku scores on a penalty kick his side's third goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

And Inter’s comeback was complete six minutes from time when Lukaku converted a penalty after Achraf Hakimi was tripped in the area by Nicolas Nkoulou.

Inter Milan's head coach Antonio Conte gives instructions during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored twice in an impressive first half for Roma after Borja Mayoral’s opener.

Torino's Cristian Ansaldi, covered by his teammates, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

Also, Bologna won 2-1 at Sampdoria. Udinese was playing Genoa later.

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku, left, and Inter Milan's Alexis Sanchez stand after Torino's Cristian Ansaldi scored during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku, left, and Inter Milan's Alexis Sanchez stand after Torino's Cristian Ansaldi scored during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

It is only Sassuolo’s eighth season in the Italian top flight and the team has never finished higher than sixth.

Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi scores during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Sassuolo at the Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium in Verona, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (Paola GarbuioLaPresse via AP)

Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi scores during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Sassuolo at the Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium in Verona, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (Paola GarbuioLaPresse via AP)

Verona dominated the match, hitting the woodwork four times. But Sassuolo broke the deadlock three minutes from the interval and against the run of play.

Jérémie Boga latched onto Domenico Berardi’s crossfield pass and curled it into the far top corner.

Berardi got onto the scoresheet himself in the 76th minute as Verona players failed to close him down before he unleashed a shot that took a slight deflection to dip under the crossbar.

Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi, left, celebrates after scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Sassuolo at the Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium in Verona, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (Paola GarbuioLaPresse via AP)

Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi, left, celebrates after scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Sassuolo at the Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium in Verona, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (Paola GarbuioLaPresse via AP)

INTER COMEBACK

Two late goals helped Inter fight back from 2-0 down to beat Torino 4-2 thanks to an inspired Romelu Lukaku.

Both sides had players ruled out with the coronavirus. Torino was also missing coach Marco Giampaolo because of the virus and forward Andrea Belotti pulled out injured during the warmup.

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku, second right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's third goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku, second right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's third goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

His replacement, Simone Zaza, fired Torino in front on the stroke of halftime and Cristian Ansaldi doubled the visitors’ lead in the 62nd from the penalty spot after Ashley Young fouled Wilfried Stephane Singo.

Inter pulled one back just two minutes later as Lukaku’s shot came off the crossbar with Alexis Sánchez managing to fire in the rebound.

Lukaku then hit the post before turning in Sánchez’s cross in the 64th.

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

And Inter’s comeback was complete six minutes from time when Lukaku converted a penalty after Achraf Hakimi was tripped in the area by Nicolas Nkoulou.

Inter sealed the match in the final minute when Lukaku ran down the left and rolled across for Lautaro Martínez to tap in.

OTHER MATCHES

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku scores on a penalty kick his side's third goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku scores on a penalty kick his side's third goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored twice in an impressive first half for Roma after Borja Mayoral’s opener.

Mkhitaryan has now scored five goals in his past two Serie A matches.

Earlier, Cesare Prandelli’s first match back in charge of Fiorentina ended in a 1-0 defeat at home to Benevento.

Inter Milan's head coach Antonio Conte gives instructions during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

Inter Milan's head coach Antonio Conte gives instructions during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

Also, Bologna won 2-1 at Sampdoria. Udinese was playing Genoa later.

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Torino's Cristian Ansaldi, covered by his teammates, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

Torino's Cristian Ansaldi, covered by his teammates, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku, left, and Inter Milan's Alexis Sanchez stand after Torino's Cristian Ansaldi scored during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku, left, and Inter Milan's Alexis Sanchez stand after Torino's Cristian Ansaldi scored during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)

Next Article

Juventus beats Fiorentina to advance to Italian Cup final

2022-04-21 05:10 Last Updated At:05:20

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports