Italian Serie A: More home joy at last for Verona

Hellas Verona beat Parma 3-1 on Sunday afternoon to clinch their first win at home since October 4.

Jacopo Sala put the hosts ahead in the 39th minute before Parma's Francesco Lodi levelled with a free-kick in the 63rd minute.

Luca Toni gave Hellas the lead again nine minutes later and substitute Mattia Valoti sealed the win in injury time.

The victory, Hellas' fifth of the campaign, has lifted the Verona outfit to 13th place, while Parma remain in 19th position, eight points from safety.

The visitors went into the contest looking to pick up where they left off after last week's 1-0 triumph over Fiorentina.

Hellas, who had won just one of their previous 11 league games, were without the services of suspended midfielders Emil Hallfredsson and Hugo Campanharo.

The home side created the first opportunity in the 12th minute when Javier Saviola fed Toni in the box but his effort was kept out by Parma goalkeeper Antonio Mirante.

Three minutes later, Mirante was called on again to make a save to clear Rafael Marquez's powerful header from Leandro Greco's dangerous cross.

The home side continued to test Parma's defence and in the 33rd minute, Saviola worked Mirante with a close-range effort which the keeper saved.

Hellas took a deserved lead before half-time when Saviola set up Sala just outside the area and he struck a diagonal shot out of Mirante's reach.

There was nothing Hellas goalkeeper Francesco Benussi could do to deny Parma an equaliser, with Lodi sending the ball into the bottom-left corner of goal with his powerful free-kick.

Parma's joy was shortlived as the home side went back in front shortly after when Valotti's cross found Toni in the heart of the area and he struck the ball past Mirante.

Hellas wrapped up the win seconds from time when a fast break saw Nico Lopez set up Valoti in the box and his left-footed strike beat Mirante.

ends