Verona put two past fellow new boys Sassuolo

Posted Monday, September 16, 2013 by Foxsports.com

Hellas Verona condemned fellow promoted side Sassuolo to their third consecutive defeat in Serie A with a 2-0 win.

Sassuolo may have won Serie B by three points from Verona in May but early impressions in the top flight would suggest the Modenese side are more likely to struggle.

Hellas trumped AC Milan with a brace from Luca Toni on the opening day and shrugged off the veteran striker's absence through injury to claim a second league win with goals from Raphael Martinho and Romulo.

Martinho showed early intent with a smooth move in the middle of the park, but Daniele Cacia would not come out on top in a one-on-one with Alberto Pomini.

Verona's Brazilian schemer would have better luck in the 12th minute, however, as his left-footed screamer sailed into the Sassuolo net to earn him a first Serie A goal.

The Neroverdi struggled to respond and only Jasmin Kurtic's long-range free-kick came anywhere to threatening Verona keeper Rafael.

Pomini was kept busy after the break as Juanito Gomez Taleb tried his luck with a shot on the turn before Simone Zaza tried to slide in on a loose ball at the other end.

Ezequiel Schelotto went closer with a sighter from the edge of the area that Rafael only just managed to parry, with Kurtic's follow-up shot darting just to the keeper's right.

Verona had soaked up the visiting pressure and promptly raced up the other end to feed Cacia, who held the ball up before rifling it over the bar.

With 10 minutes remaining, Sassuolo wasted their best chance to equalise.

An inswinging corner bobbled around the Verona box until Zaza got his head on to the loose ball but, despite being unmarked, he could only glance it wide.

Eusebio Di Francesco's men, who went gung-ho for the final throes, created one last opportunity to salvage a point in Verona.

Antonio Floro Flores' header from a corner put Rafael at sixes and sevens as the loose ball rolled across to Francesco Acerbi, but the Sassuolo defender could not find the back of the net.

In reality Hellas had done well to hold out for the three points and the final scoreline was ultimately flattering, with Romulo adding insult to injury with an unopposed finish deep into stoppage time.