AC Chievo Verona have given their hopes of survival a boost by beating fellow strugglers Catania 2-0 in their Serie A meeting at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi.
Francesco Lodi came close to opening the scoring for the visitors when he saw his low strike from inside the box saved by Michael Agazzi.
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Alberto Paloschi then wasted a good chance for Chievo, but he could not get enough power on his strike to trouble Mariano Andujar.
In the 38th minute Cyril Thereau gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot, after Pablo Alvarez had been penalised for a handball in the box.
After the break Agazzi had to be alert to keep out Gino Peruzzi's strike, before saving from Lodi's close-range header.
Midway through the second half Chievo doubled their lead when Luca Rigoni rose highest to meet Perparim Hetemaj's free kick and loop a header into the far corner of the net.
Hetemaj almost added a third late on when his drive from range sailed narrowly wide of the post, but Chievo's two-goal lead proved to be enough as they held on to win and move up to 16th in the table.
Alex Meyers
