Como keep Champions League hopes alive with narrow win over Verona

[p]The hosts had the first chance of the half after just three minutes when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/suslov-tomas/CQDgdTbJ/"]Tomas Suslov[/a] stung the palms of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/butez-jean/QHLJe7td/"]Jean Butez[/a] after good work from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bowie-kieron/QwufU6cU/"]Kieron Bowie[/a] to set him up.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/como/ttyLthOA/"]Como[/a] were struggling to get going as an attacking force despite a top-heavy line-up selected by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fabregas-cesc/YXIDwoe5/"]Cesc Fabregas[/a], and it took until the 25th minute for their first real chance to arrive, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodriguez-jesus/v7LsBMfn/"]Jesus Rodriguez[/a]’s long-range effort was held by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/montipo-lorenzo/WhLULVuN/"]Lorenzo Montipo[/a].[/p][p]Just after the half-hour mark, Bowie headed over from close range after latching onto [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bernede-antoine/6cAHyXWn/"]Antoine Bernede[/a]’s deflected effort, shortly before the best chance of the opening half for the visitors came with almost the last kick.[/p][p]Rodriguez got to the byline for the first time all game, and his cutback was stabbed just wide by the previously uninvolved [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/douvikas-anastasios/YgPGkQYi/"]Anastasios Douvikas[/a], keeping the contest goalless at the interval and in desperate need of a spark.[/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="aa09bddc-60b7-432c-a112-e4d2172d523e" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="9ff65740-411e-451f-a841-16eb6fe8c536" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]A clearly disgruntled Fabregas made three changes at the break, and it was one of those substitutes, Hrvoje Smolcic, who teed up [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diao-assane/rZziaoTk/"]Assane Diao[/a] with a cross from the right that the Senegalese forward headed just wide two minutes after the restart.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/baturina-martin/0WWy1lhR/"]Martin Baturina[/a] was another of the new arrivals at half-time, and he carved out a good chance for captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/da-cunha-lucas/IXqHAIWJ/"]Lucas da Cunha[/a], but he could only poke his close-range effort straight at Montipo.[/p][p][b]As the clock ticked into the last 20 minutes, the deadlock was finally broken by Douvikas, who latched on to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kempf-marc-oliver/AR2PqO6h/"]Marc-Oliver Kempf[/a]’s long clearance before outmuscling [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/edmundsson-andrias/OrlaitDn/"]Andrias Edmundsson[/a] and finishing clinically into the far corner for a much-needed goal. [/b][/p][embed guid="d4db58f1-b111-4a9a-be20-7430834926cc" url="https://x.com/SerieA_EN/status/2053450323453202716" social-type="twitter" /][p]Como hearts were in mouths just four minutes later, though, when Bowie had the ball in the net at the other end, only for a long VAR review to confirm an offside in the build-up.[/p][p]Como went in search of a second goal to open up a bit of breathing room, with Baturina forcing a flying save from Montipo before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paz-martinez-nicolas/GG6EYRT0/"]Nico Paz[/a] fizzed his shot just wide.[/p][p]Ultimately, though, a second goal wasn’t required as the Lariani held on for a crucial three points that move them up to fifth for now, two points behind [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ac-milan/8Sa8HInO/"]AC Milan[/a] in the final UCL spot, having played a game more than the Rossoneri.[/p][p]As for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/verona/rJVAIaHo/"]Verona[/a], defeat could see them slip to the foot of the table by the end of the weekend.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nelsson-victor/v32bmxF6/"]Victor Nelsson[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/verona/rJVAIaHo/"]Verona[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/como-ttyLthOA/verona-rJVAIaHo/summary/stats/?mid=nLjw02ZA"]See all the match stats with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p][image alt="The top of Serie A" id="d2df8edd-9b8e-4d71-a620-df8486463520" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="c0ae3aaf-4a95-4354-aea8-f2e024d5bc27" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /]