Alessandro Frara's last-gasp winner boosted Frosinone closer to survival in Serie A while pushing Hellas Verona towards the relegation trapdoor.
Promoted Frosinone, who took the lead at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi through Adriano Russo, are now one point behind 17th-placed Carpi after Frara's stoppage-time effort clinched a 2-1 victory.
Matteo Bianchetti looked to have rescued a point for basement boys Verona by equalising midway through the second half, but Frara's goal leaves Hellas nine points from safety with only five games remaining.
With trickier games against the likes of AC Milan and Juventus awaiting Verona in the run-in, the visit of lowly Frosinone represented a must-win fixture.
But it was the visitors who took the lead, Russo capitalising from sloppy defending at a corner to beat Pierluigi Gollini from close range.
Verona struggled to respond and found the Frosinone backline immovable with Luca Toni seeing several sighters deflected to safety.
In the 39th minute the southern side almost made it 2-0 as Russo cleverly set up Daniel Ciofani for a first-time shot that rattled Gollini's near post.
Verona used the break to refocus and came out firing in the second half.
In the 64th minute defender Bianchetti scored a rare goal, converting Giampaolo Pazzini's spilled effort to level the scores.
Toni then missed the chance to turn the game on its head as he pinged the ball just wide when Gollini fumbled Alejandro Gomez's headed attempt.
Verona might have been happy to settle for a point but would not get one. Two minutes into stoppage time, veteran midfielder Frara headed Luca Paganini's cross past Gollini.
Italian Serie A Standings
POS | Team | GP | GD | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Napoli | 20 | +33 | 53 |
2 | Internazionale | 20 | +14 | 40 |
3 | Lazio | 20 | +20 | 38 |
4 | Atalanta | 20 | +16 | 38 |
5 | AC Milan | 20 | +8 | 38 |
6 | AS Roma | 20 | +8 | 37 |
7 | Udinese | 20 | +6 | 29 |
8 | Torino | 20 | -1 | 27 |
9 | Bologna | 20 | -4 | 26 |
10 | Empoli | 20 | -5 | 26 |
11 | Monza | 20 | -3 | 25 |
12 | Fiorentina | 20 | -4 | 24 |
13 | Juventus | 20 | +13 | 23 |
14 | Salernitana | 20 | -13 | 21 |
15 | Lecce | 20 | -5 | 20 |
16 | Sassuolo | 20 | -8 | 20 |
17 | Spezia | 20 | -15 | 18 |
18 | Hellas Verona | 20 | -14 | 13 |
19 | Sampdoria | 20 | -26 | 9 |
20 | Cremonese | 20 | -20 | 8 |
Serie A News
From Arsenal to Barcelona, Europe's most surprising overachievers and underachievers since the World Cup
Projection models couldn't account for a World Cup in the middle of the club season. What does data say about teams changing narratives?
Paul Pogba's comeback for Juventus delayed after latest injury setback
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba will not make his long-awaited comeback when his side host Lazio in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals on Thursday.
January transfer window: Grading every big signing from Europe's top clubs
Here are January's big deals and how we rate them, with Enzo Fernandez completing a move from Benfica to Chelsea.
Mourinho makes Osimhen-Drogba comparison, cup king Kelechi strikes again
How African stars fared in European football this past weekend.
Weston McKennie ready for Premier League
Weston McKennie speaks after sealing his loan move from Juventus to Leeds.
USMNT's Weston McKennie completes Leeds United loan for rest of season
Weston McKennie has completed a season-long loan move to Leeds United from Juventus after completing a medical on Monday.