Dzeko’s ‘lovely’ goal does the business for Roma

Edin Dzeko scored a late stunning goal to snatch a 1-0 win for Roma at Torino in their opening Serie A game yesterday.

The match appeared headed for a 0-0 draw with only two minutes remaining. But Roma debutant Justin Kluivert went past several defenders before crossing for Dzeko to volley in under the crossbar from a tight angle.

“It was a really lovely cross and I scored an even lovelier goal,” Dzeko said. “Let’s say it’s among the top three goals in my career.”

Inter Milan’s season got off to a poor start with a 1-0 loss at Sassuolo, who are becoming a bogey team for the Nerazzurri. Domenico Berardi converted a first-half penalty.

Parma’s first match back in the top flight ended in disappointment after they let slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home to Udinese.

Parma is back in Serie A only three years since being declared bankrupt, after becoming the first Italian club to earn three straight promotions.

Fellow newly promoted side Empoli did better, beating Cagliari 2-0. ● In La Liga, Gareth Bale is doing his bit to help Real Madrid get over Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure.

Bale scored in Madrid’s Spanish league opener and set up the other goal in a 2-0 win over Getafe.

Dani Carvajal also scored for Madrid, who for the first time in nearly a decade started their league campaign without Ronaldo, the club’s greatest goal-scorer.

Bale, who hadn’t played much while Ronaldo was still on the team before he moved to Juventus in the off-season, scored in the 51st minute with a shot from inside the area after a well-placed cross by Marco Asensio.

● In Germany, Rhine rivals Borussia Moenchengladbach and Cologne scored 20 goals between them to advance from the first round of the German Cup.

Moenchengladbach routed fifth tier BSC Hastedt 11-1, while Cologne beat fourth-tier Dynamo Berlin 9-1.

Defending champions Eintracht Frankfurt were knocked out at the first hurdle by Ulm, while Bayern Munich struggled to overcome fourthtier SV Drochtersen/Assel 1-0.