Genoa survive again, Lecce relegated on final day of season

Aug 2 (Reuters) - Genoa, Italy’s oldest professional club, guaranteed Serie A survival on the final day of the season for the second year running on Sunday by beating Hellas Verona 3-0 while Lecce became the last team to be relegated.

Lecce, promoted last season, lost 4-3 at home to Parma and were relegated for the ninth time since their Serie A debut in 1985-86. Genoa finished 17th with 39 points, four ahead of Lecce who join SPAL and Brescia in Serie B next season.

Antonio Sanabria scored twice in the first half hour for Genoa and Cristian Romero, sent off in the second half, added the third before halftime. Genoa’s Francesco Cassata and Verona’s Sofyan Amrabat were sent off in the last minute.

Fabio Lucioni put through his own goal before Gianluca Caprari added a second for Parma but Antonin Barak and Biagio Meccariello pulled Lecce level at halftime. Andreas Cornelius and Roberto Inglese restored Parma’s two-goal lead and Gianluca Lapadula pulled one back.