‘Exceptional’ Dzeko fires Roma
ROMA boss Luciano Spalletti hailed revitalised striker Edin Dzeko (pix) as “exceptional” after the Bosnian kept his club’s title challenge alive with a record-breaking double yesterday.
The former Manchester City forward, who struggled initially to make an impact in Italy, fired Roma to a 2-0 win over lowly Empoli that maintains the tension in the Serie A title race on a potentially decisive weekend.
The brace took Dzeko’s tally for the season to 33 goals in all competitions – eclipsing the previous club record jointly held by veteran captain Francesco Totti and two other Roma legends.
His two goals, typical close-range poachers’ efforts either side of the interval, clinched a comfortable win against an Empoli side with the poorest strike rate of any club in the Italian top flight.
The three points lifted Roma to within five of leaders Juventus, 24 hours before the champions travel to third-placed Napoli for star striker Gonzalo Higuain’s first return to his former club.
“Dzeko was exceptional tonight as he has been most of the season,” Spalletti said.
“He is a very strong player, of the kind we have always looked for. Before there was only Totti, now we also have him who can deliver these kind of numbers.”
Dzeko’s goals saw him pass Totti’s best return, in the 2006-07 season, as well as the totals registered by Rodolfo Volk in 1930-31 and Argentine striker Pedro Manfredini in 1960-61.
The 31-year-old has scored 23 league goals, eight in the Europa League and two in the Italian Cup.
Lazio had earlier boosted their hopes of Champions League football next season by coming from behind to snatch a 2-1 win at struggling Sassuolo that leaves them fourth, three points adrift of Napoli, who currently occupy Italy’s final qualifying spot for Europe’s elite competition.
A late own goal by Sassuolo defender Francesco Acerbi gave Simone Inzaghi’s side all three points after Ciro Immobile’s 18th league goal of the season cancelled out Domenico Berardi’s penalty opener for the home side. – AFP