PARMA, ITALY — Deep into the seventh minute of stoppage time, Mateo Pellegrino rose highest to nod home Hans Nicolussi Caviglia's cross and snatch a priceless 2-1 victory for Parma over a stubborn Hellas Verona side at the Ennio Tardini. The dramatic late winner capped an afternoon of relentless pressure from the hosts, who peppered Lorenzo Montipò's goal with 27 attempts but looked destined for frustration until Pellegrino's intervention sparked wild celebrations among the home faithful.
The match exploded into life within four minutes when Adrián Bernabé announced his presence with a stunning strike from outside the box. Mandela Keita's clever pass found the Spanish midfielder in space, and Bernabé unleashed a venomous left-footed effort that arrowed into the bottom right corner, leaving Montipò rooted to the spot. The early goal set the tone for what would become a siege on the Verona goal, with Parma's attacking intent clear from the opening whistle.
Verona, sitting precariously in 18th place, showed their desperation to salvage something from the contest when they won a penalty two minutes before halftime. Abdou Harroui stepped up with confidence and dispatched his spot-kick low to the bottom left corner, silencing the home crowd and giving the visitors a lifeline against the run of play. The equalizer came against the statistical tide, with Parma already dominating possession at 75.6% and creating numerous chances that had either been blocked or saved by the impressive Montipò.
The second half continued in the same vein, with Parma launching wave after wave of attacks against a Verona side that had packed men behind the ball. Sascha Britschgi tested Montipò early in the period with a right-footed effort from distance that the goalkeeper gathered comfortably. Gabriel Strefezza came agonizingly close in the 71st minute when his right-footed shot from outside the box cannoned off the crossbar, drawing gasps from the home support who sensed their team's growing frustration.
Verona's task became increasingly difficult as the match wore on. The visitors were reduced to ten men, and their defensive resolve was tested to the limit as Parma continued to probe. Jacob Ondrejka proved a constant menace down the left flank, forcing Montipò into a smart save in the 72nd minute after being teed up by Nicolussi Caviglia. The Verona goalkeeper was called into action five times throughout the afternoon, producing a heroic performance that looked set to earn his side an unlikely point.
The statistics painted a picture of complete dominance from the hosts. Parma's 27 shots dwarfed Verona's meager four attempts, while the home side also won 12 corners compared to Verona's solitary flag kick. The visitors committed 14 fouls in their desperate attempts to stem the tide, earning a yellow card for Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro in the 86th minute as tempers frayed. Parma's control of the ball was suffocating, with their three-quarters possession share pinning Verona deep in their own half for long stretches.
As the clock ticked past 90 minutes, Parma's urgency reached fever pitch. Enrico Delprato, Alessandro Circati, and Emanuele Valeri all contributed to the attacking efforts, with crosses raining into the Verona penalty area. The introduction of Nicolussi Caviglia and Gaetano Oristanio from the bench added fresh impetus to Parma's forward play, with both substitutes immediately involved in the final assault on Verona's goal.
The decisive moment arrived in the 93rd minute when Nicolussi Caviglia delivered a perfect cross from the right flank. Pellegrino, who had replaced Ange-Yoan Bonny earlier in the half, timed his run to perfection and powered a header past the despairing dive of Montipò into the bottom left corner. The stadium erupted as Pellegrino wheeled away in celebration, his teammates mobbing him near the corner flag as the realization of three vital points sank in.
The final whistle sparked scenes of relief and jubilation among the Parma players and supporters. This hard-fought victory moves them to 17 points from 16 matches, creating crucial breathing space above the relegation zone. For Verona, the defeat leaves them rooted in 18th place on 12 points, with their survival hopes taking another blow despite their valiant defensive effort for much of the contest.
The win positions Parma well ahead of their trip to AC Milan on February 22, where they'll look to build on this momentum against one of Serie A's giants. Verona must regroup quickly with a crucial relegation six-pointer away to Sassuolo on the same day, knowing that points are becoming increasingly precious as the season reaches its midway point.