Serie A | Torino 4-1 Parma – D’Aversa train picks up steam as Cuesta’s run grinds to a halt

Roberto D’Aversa’s Torino continued their encouraging revival under the new coach with a convincing home win over Parma, ending their opponents’ five-game unbeaten run and closing to within a point of them in the Serie A table in the process.

Torino made the perfect start when Giovanni Simeone pounced on a rebound inside the box to slot home in just the third minute, giving the hosts exactly the platform they needed at the Olimpico Grande Torino.

Parma responded well, however, and levelled matters on 20 minutes through Mateo Pellegrino, who met a delightful Gabriel Strefezza cross with a precise header inside the right post to restore parity.

Torino put Parma to the sword in exciting second half

The second half was where the match turned decisively in Torino’s favour, and in the most dramatic and unlikely fashion.

Within the space of two minutes, Parma gifted their hosts a two-goal cushion through a pair of own goals, although the first was later awarded to Emirhan Ilkhan.

First Enrico Delprato put through his own net on 55 minutes, after a deflected effort from Ilkhan.

Then Mandela Keita compounded Parma’s misery two minutes later to make it 3-1. It was a devastating spell for Carlos Cuesta’s side, undoing everything they had worked hard to build.

Parma pushed for a way back into the match in the closing stages but found Torino resolute, with goalkeeper Alberto Paleari working hard to prevent any comeback.

Then, in stoppage time, the hosts extended their lead to 4-1 thanks to a well-taken goal by experienced forward Duvan Zapata.

The result lifts Torino to 13th in the table, now just a single point behind Parma in 12th. D’Aversa’s side are building momentum at exactly the right time, with the two sides now inextricably linked in what promises to be a tense battle to pull clear of the relegation picture.