Como’s stunning rise: A 1-0 win at Verona seals the club’s first-ever European spot

MILAN (AP) — Seven years ago, Como was playing in the fourth division of Italian soccer. Next season it will be competing in Europe for the first time in its 119-year history.

And that could even be the Champions League.

Como won 1-0 at Hellas Verona in Serie A on Sunday to guarantee a spot in at least the Conference League as it can't finish lower than sixth. Anastasios Douvikas scored for Como.

The result also left Como just two points behind fourth-place AC Milan, which was playing Atalanta later. Roma was level on points with Milan after snatching a dramatic 3-2 win at Parma.

There are two rounds remaining in Serie A after this weekend.

Como is making rapid progress since Indonesian tobacco billionaire brothers Roberto Budi Hartono and Michael Bambang Hartono purchased the club in 2019, when it was in Serie D.

European soccer could prove enough to keep coach Cesc Fabregas at the club, with bigger teams across Europe reportedly interested in the 39-year-old, who has impressed in his first managerial position.

Roma scored two goals deep in stoppage time to snatch a comeback win at Parma and boost its hopes of getting into the Champions League.

Roma was heading for defeat when Mandela Keita gave Parma a 2-1 lead in the 87th minute.

However, substitute Devyne Rensch scrambled in the equalizer in the fourth minute of stoppage time and then won a penalty when he and Parma defender Sascha Britschgi fell to the ground as they were tussling for the ball.

The referee initially awarded a free kick to Parma but then revoked his decision on video review, showing Britschgi a second yellow card — and sending him off — and awarding a penalty to Roma, which Donyell Malen converted in the 11th minute of stoppages.

Jamie Vardy’s first goal since January set Cremonese on its way to a vital 3-0 win over bottom club Pisa, which played most of the second half with nine men.

Pisa had already been mathematically relegated and got off to the worst possible start when defender Rosen Bozhinov picked up two yellow cards in the opening 24 minutes and was sent off.

Vardy scored seven minutes later and Federico Bonazzoli doubled Cremonese’s lead early in the second half.

It got even worse for Pisa in the 57th minute when midfielder Felipe Loyola was shown a straight red card for a dangerous, two-footed tackle on Giuseppe Pezzella.

David Okereke capped the scoring for Cremonese, which moved to within a point of safety.

Fiorentina and Genoa are both now mathematically safe after playing out a 0-0 draw.

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Cremonese's Jamie Vardy celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Cremonese and Bologna, in Cremona, Italy, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (Alberto Mariani/LaPresse via AP)

Roma's Donyell Malen, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A soccer match between Parma and Roma in Parma, Italy, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (Gianni Santandrea/LaPresse via AP)

Como's coach Cesc Fabregas wears a jersey reading " Como means Europe? " as he celebrates with fans after his team clinched a berth in the UEFA competitions, at the end of the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Como, in Verona, Italy, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)

Como's players celebrate their 1-0 win at the end of the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Como, in Verona, Italy, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)

CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — The remains of a U.S. Army soldier who went missing during military exercises in Morocco a week ago have been recovered in the Atlantic Ocean, the U.S. military said Sunday. Military teams are still searching for a second missing soldier.

The remains found are those of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer, who was one of two U.S. soldiers who fell off a cliff during a recreational hike in Morocco while off duty. He was 27 years old.

The two were reported missing May 2 after participating in African Lion, annual multinational military exercises held in Morocco.

“A Moroccan military search team found the Soldier in the water along the shoreline at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time May 9, within roughly one mile of where both Soldiers reportedly entered the ocean,” U.S Army Europe and Africa said in a statement.

The two went missing around 9 p.m. near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, a terrain characterized by mountains, desert and semidesert plains, according to the Moroccan military.

Their disappearance triggered a search-and-rescue operation involving more than 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco and other military partners. The operation deployed frigates, vessels, helicopters and drones.

Search efforts will continue for the missing second soldier, a U.S. defense official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as they were not allowed to speak publicly on the issue.

The official said a U.S. contingent remained in Morocco after the multinational war games ended Friday to provide command and control and to continue search and rescue operations.

Key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, U.S Army Europe and Africa said.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina, with minors in international business, entrepreneurship, and business administration. He entered military service in 2023 as an officer candidate and earned his commission through Officer Candidate School in 2024 as an Air Defense Artillery officer. He later completed the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, according to the statement.

The search-and-rescue operation, now in its ninth day, has covered more than 12,000 square kilometers of sea and littoral zone, currently adding around 3,000 square kilometers per day.

The soldiers had been taking part in African Lion 26, a U.S.-led exercise launched in April across four countries – Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal – with more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations. Since 2004, it has been the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa.

In 2012, two U.S. Marines were killed and two others injured during a helicopter crash in Morocco’s southern city of Agadir while taking part in the exercises.

FILE - U.S and Moroccan military forces take part in the 20th edition of the African Lion military exercise, in Tantan, south of Agadir, Morocco, Friday, May 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy, File)