Romelu Lukaku’s dramatic last-minute goal secured a crucial 2-1 victory for Napoli at bottom club Verona, boosting their Champions League qualification hopes.

NAPOLI kept their top-four push on track with a dramatic 2-1 win at rock-bottom Hellas Verona on Saturday. Romelu Lukaku scored the winner with the final kick of the game, marking his first goal of a season hampered by injury.

The Belgian forward bundled home Giovane’s cross in stoppage time to snatch all three points at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi. Napoli had looked set to drop vital points after Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro cancelled out Rasmus Hojlund’s early opener in the 65th minute.

Lukaku, who only made his season debut in late January, delivered a huge result for the injury-ravaged defending champions. They were without key midfielders Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne, Andre-Frank Anguissa and captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo.

The victory maintains Napoli’s third-place position, but their title defence is effectively over. They trail runaway leaders Inter Milan by 11 points after another weekend where their squad was severely depleted.

Verona, now under interim coach Paolo Sammarco, remain 10 points from safety. This defeat extends their winless run to 12 consecutive matches, deepening their relegation fears.

Meanwhile, Napoli’s rivals for Champions League spots also picked up wins. Cesc Fabregas’s Como strolled to a 3-1 victory over Lecce to continue their surprising push for European football.

Como came from behind after Lassana Coulibaly’s early header, with Tasos Douvikas, Jesus Rodriguez and Marc Oliver Kempf scoring before half-time. They rested star man Nico Paz ahead of Tuesday’s Italian Cup semi-final first leg against Inter Milan.

The result moves Como two points behind fourth-placed Roma and five behind Napoli. They also sit two points clear of sixth-placed Juventus, who face Roma on Sunday trying to stay in the top-four race.

 The Sun Malaysia