The Malta Independent on Sunday
Roma and Napoli keep up the challenge
Roma kept its faint Serie A title hopes alive with a 5-3 win at Chievo Verona in the penultimate round yesterday.
It wasn't all plain sailing for Roma, which had to twice come from behind in Verona to earn a club record seventh consecutive away victory.
Roma moved to within one point of Juventus, which can wrap up an unprecedented sixth successive Serie A title with victory at home to relegationthreatened Crotone today.
The result also boosted Roma's chances of finishing second and going straight into the Champions League group stage, although Napoli can cut the gap back to one point with a win against Fiorentina later.
Stephan El Shaarawy and Mohamed Salah both scored twice for Roma.
Lucas Castro volleyed the home side into a surprise lead in the 15th minute after a Roberto Inglese header fell kindly for the Chievo winger.
Roma leveled shortly before the hour as El Shaarawy ran onto a Federico Fazio header from the halfway line and rounded Stefano Sorrentino, who rushed out to the edge of the penalty area, before deposit- ing it into the empty net.
However, Inglese was left completely unmarked to head in Valter Birsa's cross and restore Chievo's lead.
It was all square again five minutes later when Salah cut inside the right side of the area and curled into the far side of the net, courtesy of a deflection.
After the break, Roma took the lead for the first time as El Shaarawy timed his run to perfection to spring the offside trap, run onto Kevin Strootman's lob and fire past Sorrentino.
Salah all but sealed the result 13 minutes from time, running onto Edin Dzeko's throughball and placing a precise finish into the bottom left corner.
Dzeko also got on the scoresheet with a splendid late strike. That took Roma's tally to 87 league goals, matching the club record it set in 1931.
Inglese headed in another consolation for Chievo, moments after Francesco Totti replaced Dzeko for what was likely his penultimate appearance. The Roma icon and World Cup winner is almost certain to retire after the season.
In the evening match Napoli continued its pursue of the second place with a convincing 4-1 hammering of Fiorentina.
Koulibaly and Insigne gave Napoli a two-goal lead by the break, and Dries Mertens scored a brace in the second half for Napoli’s victory.
Ilicic pulled one back Fiorentina on the hour. Yesterday Today Tomorrow Pescara-Palermo Juventus AS Roma Napoli Lazio Atalanta AC Milan Fiorentina Inter Torino Sampdoria Udinese Cagliari Sassuolo Chievo Bologna Genoa Empoli Crotone Palermo Pescara PW D L F A Pts 36 27 4 5 72 26 85 37 27 3 7 87 36 84 37 25 8 4 90 37 83 36 21 7 8 72 45 70 36 19 9 8 60 41 66 36 17 9 10 53 43 60 37 16 11 10 61 55 59 36 17 5 14 64 46 56 36 12 14 10 65 61 50 36 12 11 13 46 50 47 36 12 8 16 44 50 44 36 13 5 18 51 69 44 36 12 7 17 49 56 43 37 12 7 18 43 60 43 36 11 8 17 39 53 41 36 8 9 19 34 60 33 36 8 8 20 28 58 32 36 8 7 21 31 54 31 36 5 8 23 31 74 23 36 2 8 26 33 79 14
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