Record-breaker Dzeko gives Roma win, Lazio prevail over Sassuolo

Rome April 2 (IANS) Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko broke a Roma goal-scoring record as the capital football giants beat Empoli 2-0 while Lazio beat Sassuolo 2-1 in the Serie A.

Dzeko on Saturday became the leading goal-scorer in a single season for Roma thanks to his brace moving to 33 goals according to the club s website.

He started the day one goal adrift of three legendary Giallorossi hitmen -- Francesco Totti Rodolfo Volk and Pedro Manfredini -- but leap-frogged all of them over 90 minutes after two classic finishes.

It took just 12 minutes for Dzeko to get his side ahead as he turned in Antonio Rudiger s near-post flick-on from a corner match at the Stadio Olimpico.

Then after half-time he was once again in the right place at the right time -- finishing from close-range a nudge from Mohamed Salah towards the goal.

Roma chief coach Luciano Spalletti said: We were below par in the first half and Empoli did better than us by moving the ball around quickly.

I wouldn t say it was a scrappy win though just a poor first half. We took the game to them after the break and there can be no disputing we deserved to win.

The win took second-placed Roma to 68 points from 30 games. They are five points behind Juventus but the Turin giants can regain their eight-point lead at the top with a win against third-placed Napoli (65 points) away on Sunday night.

In another match Lazio beat Sassuolo 2-1 away thanks to a strike from Ciro Immobile (42nd minute) and an own goal from Francesco Acerbi (83rd). Domenico Berardi s penalty in the 26th minute had put the hosts ahead.

Sassuolo s Lorenzo Pellegrini almost levelled in the final minute but he was denied by the crossbar.

--IANS
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