MILAN: Arkadiusz Milik scored a stoppage-time goal to snatch a 1-0 win for Napoli at Cagliari on Sunday and prevent his team’s Serie A title hopes from diminishing even further.

Milik had seen a late effort saved on Tuesday as Napoli was eliminated from the Champions League at Liverpool but he curled in a free kick in Sardinia to prevent the week from going from bad to worse for his club.

“I’m happy for Milik because he’s a hard-working lad, a reference point for the group,” Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

Napoli remained second, eight points behind Juventus and six above third-placed Inter after both teams won on Saturday.

Napoli went close on several occasions and Milik’s header from Mertens’ cross bounced off the crossbar and just the wrong side of the line for the visitors.

It appeared as if the match was going to finish in a draw before Milik curled in a wonderful free kick into the top right corner.

Roma twice came from behind to beat Genoa 3-2 and take some of the pressure off coach Eusebio Di Francesco.

Bryan Cristante scored what was to prove the winner in the 59th minute after a one-two with Justin Kluivert to end Roma’s winless streak of five matches. Kluivert had scored Roma’s second equaliser on the stroke of halftime.

Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen gifted Krzysztof Piatek the opener before Federico Fazio leveled in the 31st. Oscar Hiljemark restored Genoa’s lead almost immediately.

Roma, who are through to the last-16 of the Champions League, moved up to sixth in Serie A.

In another match, Giovanni Simeone netted his second goal in as many matches as Fiorentina fought back to beat Empoli 3-1.

Rade Krunic gave Empoli the lead but Simeone set up Kevin Mirallas shortly before halftime for the equaliser and then put his side in front in the 59th when he headed in Cristiano Biraghi’s cross.

Substitute Bryan Dabo sealed the result with the goal of the game, 12 minutes from time.

Spal are also five points above the relegation zone after they could only manage a 0-0 draw at home to bottom club Chievo Verona.

Sampdoria beat Parma 2-0.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2018

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