Roma win second place battle with Napoli

Roma forward Edin Dzeko has a point to prove.

He wasn't the striker Roma hoped for after it signed him from Manchester City in August 2015. Last season was full of disappointment.

But he's finally showing his ruthlessness in front of goal, with two more scores as Roma beat Napoli 3-1 yesterday in a top-of-the-Serie A clash.

Dzeko netted his first two minutes from halftime when Mohamed Salah stole the ball off Kalidou Koulibaly at the byline and swung in a cross for Dzeko to volley home.

He doubled his tally nine minutes after the interval, placing a header into the bottom left corner from Alessandro Florenzi's free kick.

Koulibaly atoned for his earlier error by rising highest at the near post to head in a corner off the opposite upright, and getting Napoli straight back into the game.

But Salah sealed matters four minutes from time, beating the offside trap to race forward and fire in off the base of the left post.

It was Roma's first away win of the season, and the capital club leapfrogged Napoli into second spot, behind Juventus.

Napoli is two points further back after its first league defeat at Stadio San Paolo since May 2015. It was clearly missing striker Arkadiusz Milik, who has had a great start to the season but was out for six months after tearing a ligament on international duty.

In the other Serie A matches yesterday ten-man Pescara figured in a 1-1 home draw against Sampdoria.

In the late game Juventus continued with their winning streak beating Udinese 2-1 with a Dybala brace after receiving an early setback.

Dybala’s winner was scored from the penalty.