Serie A | Verona 0-1 Salernitana: Tchaouna gives hope

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Susy Campanale | Last updated 12/30/23

Salernitana got their first away victory in almost a full year thanks to Loum Tchaouna to give themselves hope of safety, but Verona missed a sitter in stoppages.

This was a massive clash, as Hellas were just one point clear of the drop zone and Pippo Inzaghi already feeling the pressure in rock bottom, despite a 2-2 draw with Milan. Ondrej Duda was suspended and Jayden Braaf injured for the hosts, while Guillermo Ochoa and Boulaye Dia were still out of action.

It was the worst possible start for Salernitana, as within five minutes Pol Lirola went off injured, replaced by Norbert Gyomber.

A ferocious long-range Pasquale Mazzocchi strike flashed wide, as did the Loum Tchaouna looping header on an Antonio Candreva cross.

Cyril Ngonge felt hard done by when booked for simulation in the penalty area, as he seemed to lose his footing after riding a tackle.

Lorenzo Montipò made two huge saves in quick succession before half-time, denying the Nwankwo Simy angled drive and a Grigoris Kastanos free header from point-blank range.

Tomas Suslov got the volley all wrong from eight yards after a Milan Djuric knock-down, but Salernitana got a deserved opener on the counter-attack from the Verona corner.

Tchaouna dribbled away from Martin Hongla and placed a precise low drive into the far bottom corner from the edge of the area for his debut Serie A goal.

Verona came so close to an equaliser when Milan Djuric knocked down the Filippo Terracciano cross for Ngonge to volley inches wide from 12 yards.

Hellas poured forward in stoppages and Tchaouna was decisive at the other end with a goal-line clearance on Juan Cabal.

Verona should’ve equalised with the last kick of the game, but after the stunning save on the Thomas Henry header, Ngonge horribly fired the rebound off target.

Verona 0-1 Salernitana

Tchaouna 48 (S)

30-12-2023 17:00 MatchDay 18 Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi

Verona

Salernitana 0 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Cyril Ngonge

38'

2nd half

48'

Loum Tchaouna (Assist: Grigoris Kastanos) 72' Mateusz Legowski Josh Doig 79' 90'

Antonio Candreva

Match statistic

49 Possession % 51 11 Total shots 9 0 Shots on target 3 9 Shots off target 3 2 Blocked shots 3 7 Corners 6 2 Offsides 0 13 Fouls 13 Verona Salernitana