|
Edin Dzeko set a new club record for Roma with both goals in a 2-0 victory over Empoli at the Stadio Olympico. Dzeko now has 33 goals in all competitions this season -- 23 in Serie A -- which represents the most goals scored in a single campaign by a Giallorossi player, beating the previous mark of 32 shared by Francesco Totti, Rodolfo Volk and Pedro Manfredini. He turned in the first with his knee from a corner after 12 minutes and then converted Mohamed Salah's knockdown at the back post in the 56th minute. It might have been different had Empoli, now beaten in their last seven matches, been awarded a penalty early on after goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny brought down Mame Thiam. It should have been a spot kick, but the forward was incorrectly flagged offside. Roma's win puts a little pressure on Napoli and leaders Juventus ahead of their clash on Sunday night. A late own goal handed Lazio a 2-1 win at Sassuolo and boosted their hopes of sneaking into the Champions League spots in Serie A. Lazio, who face Roma in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semifinal on Tuesday, moved three points below third-placed Napoli in the league. Sassuolo hadn't won since February but took a surprise lead in the 26th minute when Domenico Berardi was tripped by Thomas Strakosha, and he sent the resulting penalty straight down the middle for his first goal since August. Gregoire Defrel almost doubled Sassuolo's lead immediately but sent his effort just wide of the left post. Lazio leveled three minutes before the break when Ciro Immobile beat the offside trap to run onto Felipe Anderson's through ball and fire across into the bottom right corner. Lazio could have taken the lead on the stroke of half-time but Paolo Cannavaro hooked Immobile's effort off the goal line. It looked as if the match was heading for a draw before Keita Balde Diao crossed to fellow substitute Cristiano Lombardi, who was unmarked at the back post. He rolled the ball across the area and Francesco Acerbi stuck out a foot to deflect it into his own net six minutes from time. Lorenzo Pellegrini almost levelled in the final minute but hit the crossbar. Information from Press Association Sport and The Associated Press was used in this report.
|
