Rome, Italy (SportsNetwork.com) – Miroslav Klose scored two goals and assisted
on another in a dominant first half as Lazio topped Cagliari, 4-2, to climb
into third place in Serie A on Monday.
The win moves Lazio to within three points of rivals Roma for second place,
while Cagliari lost for the fifth time in 10 games to sit two points above the
relegation places.
It took Lazio seven minutes to seize the advantage as Stefano Mauri was able
to stab the ball home from close range after a touch from Klose on a corner
kick.
The Germany international then managed to score twice in the span of two
minutes, with Senad Lulic having a hand in both goals.
Klose was on hand to bundle home the ball from a few yards after a flicked
header from Lulic in the 25th minute, while he was picked out by a pass from
Lulic inside the penalty area one minute later, allowing Klose to find the
bottom corner of the net.
Cagliari got back into the match in the 48th thanks to an own goal from Edson
Braafheid, but the club was reduced to 10 men in the 72nd when Victor Ibarbo
was sent off after being involved in an altercation with Lulic.
Despite being down a man Cagliari clawed another goal back in the 84th through
Joao Pedro, but Ederson saw off the visitors by scoring in stoppage time to
secure all three points.
The other match on Monday saw Cesena and Hellas Verona battle to a 1-1 draw as
Hellas got a goal from Juanito Gomez 13 minutes from time to equalize.
