Dzeko to the rescue as Roma stay in title hunt
AFP
AFP, MILAN: Edin Dzekos second-half strike kept Serie A title challengers Roma in the hunt with a 1-0 win at home to Cagliari that cut the gap on leaders Juventus to one point on Sunday.
Fresh life was breathed into the race for the scudetto last week, especially for Roma and Napoli, when Juventus suffered a 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina.
But the Turin giants, aiming for a record sixth consecutive title, fired a warning to their chasers with a classy, first-half performance in a 2-0 home win over Lazio that saw Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain strike shortly after the quarter hour.
Defender Andrea Barzagli started on the bench, midfielder Claudio Marchisio was sidelined and although wingback Dani Alves returned from injury, the former Barcelona star was only fit enough for a place on the bench.
Lazio had lost their last eight meetings with Juve, home and away in all competitions, and despite their good intentions the visitors were soon playing catch-up.
On Juves first real chance, Mario Mandzukic nodded the ball into the path of Dybala for the Argentinian to hit a volley with the outside of his boot past Federico Marchetti and into the far bottom corner.
Lazio were stunned again barely 10 minutes later, although the visitors defence allowed Higuain to run in unchecked to meet Juan Cuadrados delivery from the right flank on 17 minutes.
It was Higuains 14th goal in 19 appearances and left the Argentine only one behind league leader Mauro Icardi of Inter Milan, who, along with Atalanta, capitalised on AC Milans 2-1 San Siro to Napoli on Saturday to push the Rossoneri down to seventh at 11 points adrift.
Back in Champions League action at Porto next month, coach Massimiliano Allegri said: I asked the lads for a big team performance because thats what we need in Europe, and they pulled through.
