Keita keeps Lazios Europa hopes alive
AFP
AFP, MILAN: Senegal striker Keita Balde came off the bench to hit a late winner in a 2-1 defeat of Empoli that boosted Lazios Europa League hopes on Saturday.
Lazio remain in fifth place at 16 points behind Juventus, who saw Paulo Dybala hit a brace in a 4-1 win over former club Palermo on Friday to stretch the Turin giants Serie A lead over Roma to 10 points.
Roma, in second, can restore their seven-point deficit with a win at home to Torino on Monday. Fellow title challengers Napoli, two points further off the pace, sit third before visiting Chievo on Sunday.
Simone Inzaghis Lazio are one of several sides looking to secure at least a top-five finish and an automatic place in the Europa League.
And he told Sky Sport: Were up there and we want to stay here. The fans really gave us their support and I think we paid them back because we saw a good performance tonight.
The only negative aspect was not scoring in the first half when we had a few chances. As so often happens, you pay for those misses.
But the lads did well to pull it back and claim the victory.
Lazio were under pressure to keep pace after unheralded Atalanta, in fourth, maintained their purple patch with a 1-0 home win over struggling Crotone.
And Empoli were in no mood for giving up their fight to stay away from the relegation zone.
Giovanni Martusciellos side are a notoriously tough nut to crack at their Castellani stadium, which almost saw a candidate for goal of the season when Manuel Pucciarellis volley edged just over Thomas Strakoshas crossbar.
At the other end, Lazio striker Ciro Immobile stung Lukasz Skorupskis gloves and saw an angled drive finger-tipped round the base of the upright.
When sent clear on a through ball, Felipe Anderson scuffed his finish with the goal at his mercy.
Skorupski had to perform heroics to keep out Marco Parolos daring shot from distance, then produced a great one-handed save on an Immobile cutback from the by-line as Anderson lurked in front of goal.
