Roma defeat Lazio thanks to penalties

Roma earned a priceless 2-0 derby victory over rivals Lazio in Serie A thanks to a pair of penalties from Marco Borriello and Mirko Vucinic in the second half. This result leaves Lazio still two points clear of Milan, but it does open up the Serie A title race.

The former Milan striker converted after a handball by Stephan Lichtsteiner and then Vucinic hit the second following a foul by Andre Dias on Julio Baptista. While Mirko Vucinic looked dangerous early on, twice coming close to sending Marco Borriello in on goal, it was Lazio who made the first two clear chances.

Stefano Mauri just about escaped the offside trap in the 12th minute and was able to cross low from the left, but the ball just beat the sliding Tommaso Rocchi at the far post. Moments later Hernanes fired a shot just over from 12 yards. At the other end, Simone Perrotta was close to giving the Giallorossi the lead on 26 minutes when he fired wide from a well-worked free-kick.

The first piece of real controversy came shortly before the interval when John Arne Riise played in Borriello down the left, and after the striker got to the bye-line he cut back a cross through the hands of Fernando Muslera for Leandro Greco to tap in. However, as the substitute turned away to celebrate he was met with an offside flag, raised perhaps harshly against Borriello.

Borriello could then have scored himself in first half stoppage time but fired wide under pressure from two defenders.

Within five minutes of the restart there was real drama as Roma were awarded a penalty. Fabio Simplicio struck a hard ball from the edge of the area which Stephan Lichtsteiner reacted to by raising his hands just in front of his face. After a short delay, Borriello stepped up to send his left foot effort wriggling under the body of Muslera at his left hand post and into the back of the net.

Lazio had a massive opportunity to equalise when Mauri’s excellent high ball reached Hernanes in a one-on-one duel with Julio Sergio, but when the Brazilian shot the keeper stayed big and managed to keep the effort out with his feet.

The Lupi could have wrapped up the game with 15 minutes left when Fabio Simplicio struck the bar from 10 yards with Muslera beaten and Vucinic was unable to turn the rebound towards goal. Within seconds Lazio should have had a chance to equalise.

When a stinging drive was sent across the face of goal, Mauri looked likely the tap home until he was held back by both hands of Riise. Despite wild protestations from the Aquile players, Emidio Morganti refused to point to the spot.

However, Morganti did give a second spot-kick on 85 minutes when Dias pulled down Julio Baptista as the Brazilian substitute looked to turn inside his man. This time Vucinic's penalty was much more decisive, sending Muslera the wrong way.

The result does nothing to affect Lazio's status as league leaders, but Roma climb to within the chase for Champions League football thanks to the three points.

Other Serie A results:

Fiorentina 1 - 0 Chievo

Bari 2 - 3 Milan

Juventus 3 - 1 Cesena

Napoli 2 - 0 Parma

Sampdoria 0 - 0 Catania

Udinese 1 - 1 Cagliari