Marco Borriello struck nine minutes from time to hand Serie A leaders Juventus a 1-0 victory at Cesena, a result that relegates their hosts.
The win at the Dino Manuzzi stadium sees Juve remain three points clear of AC Milan at the top of the standings with four games remaining.
Juventus looked to be heading for a frustrating afternoon after Andrea Pirlo had struck the post from the penalty spot early on but Borriello came to the rescue just six minutes after replacing Alessandro Matri.
Cesena are 14 points behind Genoa with 12 points still up for grabs and return to the second division after two campaigns in Italy's top flight.
Kevin-Prince Boateng kept AC Milan in the title hunt and sent the club who brought him to Italy closer to relegation with the only goal against Genoa.
The Ghana international kept Milan's Scudetto challenge on track with an 86th-minute goal in a frustrating match for Massimiliano Allegri's hosts.
Genoa, who remain just one point above the relegation zone, lost Bosko Jankovic to a red card midway through the second half.
Novara maintained hope of staying up with a narrow 2-1 win over Lazio
and complicated the Biancoceleste's push for a Champions League spot.
An own goal from Mobido Diakite put Novara in front against the run of play in the 35th minute, but Antonio Candreva replied immediately.
As Lazio pushed for a winner, former Napoli striker Giuseppe Mascara did his ex-club a favour in their bid for a Champions League spot with a winner for the Piedmontese side.
Napoli moved into fourth place after goals from Marek Hamsik and Edison Cavani gave them a 2-0 win
at Lecce which kept their prospects of Champions League football alive.
The visitors scored at the start of either half to go within a point of third-placed Lazio.
Inter Milan drew level on points with fifth-placed Udinese following a 3-1 victory at the Stadio Friuli.
Danilo gave Udinese the lead in the sixth minute, but two goals from Wesley Sneijder turned the game in Inter's favour before Ricardo Alvarez added another before the break.
Fiorentina midfielder Andrea Lazzari struck the winner at the death to dent Roma's European ambitions.
Stevan Jovetic got the Viola off to a dream start with a glancing header from Lazzari's cross to put the visitors ahead after two minutes.
Roma struggled to break down a resolute Fiorentina defence but captain Francesco Totti managed to equalise 19 minutes from time.
Fiorentina then stunned the home crowd at the Stadio Olimpico with Lazzari making no mistake in front of goal.
Roma ended the game with only 10 men after striker Daniel Osvaldo was sent off for dissent in the closing seconds.
Bologna extended their unbeaten run to four games as they earned a valuable point at Siena.
Mattia Destro put Siena ahead early in the second half before Bologna striker Alessandro Diamanti equalised with a free-kick with 21 minutes remaining.
Parma further boosted their survival hopes and heaped yet more home misery on Palermo with a 2-1 victory at La Favorita.
After falling behind to an early Abel Hernandez strike, Parma secured their third straight win thanks to second-half efforts by Stefano Okaka and Jonathan Biabiany.
