Spezia relegated from Serie A after losing play-off to Verona | OneFootball

Spezia have been relegated from Serie A after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Verona in Sunday’s play-off.

Scorers: Ampadu 15′; Ampadu (OG) 5′, Ngonge 26′, 38′

The showdown in Reggio Emilia was the Italian top flight’s first tiebreaker since 2005 after both teams finished the season on 31 points.

Marco Zaffaroni’s side drew first blood after Ethan Ampadu turned the ball into his own net in attempting to cut out Davide Faraoni’s fifth-minute effort.

Chelsea’s loanee defender would later redeem himself by drilling home a stunning long-range equaliser from the edge of the penalty area.

That leveller proved to be short-lived as the Gialloblu retook the lead through Cyril Ngonge rounding off a slick move with a side-footed finish.

Matters worsened for the Aquilotti as Ngonge doubled his tally with the help of a deflection by Ampadu to beat Bartłomiej Drągowski at his near post.

Spezia were offered a lifeline midway through the second half when Verona captain Faraoni was sent off for punching a goal-bound effort off the line.

But leading scorer M’bala Nzola saw his subsequent penalty attempt saved comfortably by Lorenzo Montipò down to his left-hand side.

Montipò continued to spare his side’s blushes with a sprawling stop to prevent Ampadu scoring a potential reducer with a downwards header.

He produced further heroics to deny Nzola twice in succession, smothering the ball before denying the striker again with his feet.

Verona will now take part in their fifth consecutive Serie A campaign from August while Spezia bow out after a three-year stay.