Goals by Edin Dzeko and Gervinho in a 2-0 win over Lazio handed title contenders Roma the bragging rights from the Rome derby on Sunday as Rudi Garcia’s men moved up to second place in Serie ‘A’.
Goals by Edin Dzeko and Gervinho in a 2-0 win over Lazio handed title contenders Roma the bragging rights from the Rome derby on Sunday as Rudi Garcia’s men moved up to second place in Serie ‘A’.
Roma were in command from the outset and were rewarded in the ninth minute after a dubious penalty decision.
Despite Lazio defender Santiago Gentiletti’s challenge on Dzeko appearing to be just outside the area, it was enough to convince the referee to point to the penalty spot.
Dzeko made no mistake, stepping up to slam the ball past Federico Marchetti to claim just his second league goal for Roma but second in a week after hitting the net in a 3-2 Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Lazio, stunned 3-1 at home by AC Milan last week, were creating little but when Senad Lulic sent the ball over the heads of the Roma defence and into the path of Antonio Candreva it created panic.
Roma ‘keeper Wojciech Szczesny rushed all outside the area and just managed to clear the ball to safety.
Minutes later, the Pole was well and truly beaten but saved by the woodwork when Brazilian Felipe Anderson deftly nutmegged William Vainqueur to unleash a superb drive from distance that rattled the crossbar.
Lazio were beginning to make inroads and Szczesny was left exposed again when defender Stefan Radu got a shot away from a tight angle, only for Vainqueur to come to the rescue with a clearance that saw him slam into the post.
Elsewhere, Juventus fought back from a 19th minute opener by Empoli striker Massimo Maccarone with goals from Mario Mandzukic, Patrice Evra and Paulo Dybala securing a second successive league win for the first time this season.
