Berardi reaches 100 Serie A goals as Sassuolo beats Spezia

Posted March 18, 2022 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi, right, celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Spezia at Mapei stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Friday March 18, 2022. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

ROME (AP) - Domenico Berardi scored twice, including his 100th goal in Serie A, and Sassuolo beat Spezia 4-1 on Friday to keep alive its chances of securing a Europa League spot.

Sassuolo moved up to ninth place and just five points from the Europa League spots amid a six-match unbeaten run.

Berardi converted a penalty early on then restored Sassuolo's advantage after the break with a precise finish through traffic.

All of Berardi's 100 goals have come with Sassuolo. The striker could have a key role for Italy in next week's World Cup playoff against North Macedonia.

Kaan Ayhan and Gianluca Scamacca also scored for Sassuolo, while Daniele Verde had a temporary equalizer for Spezia, which remained 15th.

Also, Manolo Portanova scored in the first half for relegation-threatened Genoa in a 1-0 win over Torino. Shortly after Portanova's goal, Genoa was reduced to 10 men when Leo Ostigard picked up his second yellow.

It was Genoa's second win of the season. The other was in September.

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Genoa's Manolo Portanova celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Genoa and Torino at Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genova, Italy, Friday March 18, 2022. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Torino's Wilfried Singo and Genoa's Johan Vasquez, right, celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Genoa and Torino at Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genova, Italy, Friday March 18, 2022. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

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