Roma win boycotted derby

MILAN: A hugely controversial penalty set Roma on the way to a 2-0 win over neighbours Lazio in a derby which was boycotted by both sets of Ultras in a protest over security measures yesterday.

Edin Dzeko won and converted an early penalty for Roma, although the foul appeared to take place outside the penalty area, and Gervinho added the second in the 63rd minute after both sides had struck the woodwork.

The Stadio Olimpico was only half-full for the derby as Lazio joined Roma’s fans in protest against a civl defence service order to split the Curva Sud, the stadium “territory” for Roma’s hard core fans.

As a result both ends of the stadium were almost deserted.

Dzeko was felled by Santiago Gentiletti and, although replays showed the tackle was outside the area, the referee pointed to the spot. The Bosnian converted only his second Serie A goal of the season.

Gentiletti, booked for the foul, escaped a red card for tripping Gervinho soon after.

There were plenty of late tackles and flare-ups before Gervinho collected a long pass forward, burst into the Lazio area, and found a gap between Federico Marchetti and the near post to keep Roma on Inter’s heels at the top of table.

Lazio, who have not won their last five meetings with Roma, slumped to a third successive league defeat. – Reuters