TURIN: Parma’s three-year stay in Serie A ended on Monday when they were relegated following a 1-0 defeat by Torino, a result which boosted the home team’s survival chances.

Mergim Vojvoda’s 63rd minute strike sealed the win and lifted Torino three points away from Benevento who occupy the final relegation place. They also have a game in hand.

Parmas fifth successive defeat left them 12 points adrift of 17th-placed Cagliari, who occupy the last safe position in the league with four matches remaining. Cagliari also have the better head-to-head record which is a deciding factor in Serie A.

Parma, who have 20 points, follow Crotone in being relegated. One more relegation place is still to be decided.

Torino almost took the lead midway through the first half but Cristian Ansaldi’s powerful effort crashed off the crossbar.

Ansaldi grabbed an assist though as he muscled his way into the left side of the area and rolled the ball across for Vojvoda to tap in at the far post.

Torino hit the woodwork for a second time in the match when Andrea Belotti’s effort came off the left post. The Italy forward also had a goal ruled out for offside moments earlier.

During the 1990s, Parma were amongst the top sides in Italy and a force in Europe, winning the UEFA Cup in 1995 and 1999 and Cup Winners Cup in 1993.

A financial collapse led to relegation from Serie A in 2015 and rebirth in the semi-professional Serie D, Italian football’s fourth tier.

Three straight promotions took them back to the top flight but they failed to establish themselves as a force and drop down to Serie B.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2021