Verona hold on for win after VAR controversy

Rome, June 21

Verona scored twice in the first half hour but had to hang on for a 2-1 win over Cagliari on Saturday as Serie A produced a VAR controversy on its first day of action since the coronavirus stoppage.

The hosts appeared to be cruising to a win thanks to a brace from Samuel Di Carmine until forward Fabio Borini was sent off in the 35th minute for a late challenge on Marko Rog following a long VAR review, infuriating the home team.

Giovanni Simeone quickly pulled one back but the visitors could not find an equaliser.

Former Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga, who replaced Rolando Maran as Cagliari coach days before Serie A was suspended for three months in early March, finally made his debut in charge of the struggling Sardinians but could not prevent them extending their winless run to 12 matches in the league.

Promoted Verona, who have performed far above expectations this season, climbed to seventh with 38 points. Earlier, Torino and Parma drew 1-1 in the first match of the restarted season.

Verona quickly brushed off the cobwebs as they dominated the opening 30 minutes.

Di Carmine got in front of his marker to head in from Darko Lazovic’s cross after 14 minutes and then curled in a 25-metre shot from another Lazovic assist. Lazovic himself smashed a shot against the crossbar in between.

But the game changed completely after Borini was given a straight red card. Although he crashed into Rog with his foot raised, it looked unintentional as Borini did not seem to be aware of the Croat’s presence.

Cagliari quickly replied when Luca Pellegrini headed a cross down and Giovanni Simeone lashed the ball home.

The Sardinians had more possession after halftime but failed to create many openings and were also reduced to 10 men when Luca Cigarini was sent off for a second bookable with 20 minutes left.

Belotti misses penalty in Torino draw

Torino captain Andrea Belotti had a penalty saved in a 1-1 draw at home to Parma as Serie A finally resumed following a three-month coronavirus stoppage on Saturday.

Nicolas Nkoulou headed struggling Torino ahead in the 15th minute and the Cameroon defender celebrated the first Serie A goal since the restart by taking a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Torino’s shirts had the words “Thank you to all the heroes” printed under the badge as a tribute to Italy’s health workers and, as with all Italian matches for the time being, the game was played behind closed doors.

The match was originally due to be played on Feb. 23 but became one of the first to be called off as the coronavirus began to spread through Italy. Serie A was eventually suspended just over two weeks later.

Juraj Kucka fired seventh-placed Parma level in the 31st minute after Gervinho found his way to the byline and pulled the ball back.

“After three months, it was a nice match on the part of both teams,” said Parma coach Roberto D’Aversa. “They’re a very physical team and we did well to get back into the match.”

Torino won a penalty right at the start of the second half but Parma goalkeeper Luigi Sepe, who had just denied Simone Zaza with a brilliant point-blank save, got his hand to Belotti’s weak effort.

Belotti has been stuck on nine league goals since his brace against AS Roma on Jan. 5.

Torino, who are 15th with 28 points from 26 games and only three above the relegation zone, missed another clear opening when Simone Edera sent a free header wide from Ola Aina’s cross.

Both sides tired towards the end as the effects of the long break began to show, although the hosts surprisingly made only two of their five permitted substitutions.

“We were holding our own and I couldn’t see any need for changing five players,” said Torino coach Moreno Longo. “We didn’t need to make changes just for the sake of it.” — Reuters