MILAN — A humorous own goal allowed Hellas Verona to secure a vital win against last-placed Monza in a Serie A relegation battle on Saturday.

In the 13th minute, Suat Serdar made a run into the right side of the penalty area, and while it seemed like there was little threat, Monza defender Stefan Lekovi? had ample time to deal with the situation. Instead, Lekovi? inadvertently struck the ball into his own net, giving Verona an unexpected lead.

This marked Verona’s first victory of the year, propelling them three points clear of the relegation zone, while Monza finds itself eight points adrift of safety.

Before the match commenced, Monza’s standout player, Daniel Maldini, officially transitioned to Atalanta. His new team is currently in third place and aims to close the gap on the top two teams in Serie A when they face Torino later in the day.

Udinese also managed to overcome their own challenges, as they let slip a two-goal advantage. However, Iker Bravo emerged as the hero by netting the winner just six minutes before the final whistle, leading Udinese to a 3-2 triumph over Venezia and breaking a five-match winless streak.

Venezia, on the other hand, remains five points away from safety in the standings.