Record-breaker Dzeko gives Roma win, Lazio prevail over Sassuolo

Rome, April 2 (IANS) Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko broke a Roma goal-scoring record as the capital football giants beat Empoli 2-0, while Lazio beat Sassuolo 2-1 in the Serie A.

Dzeko on Saturday became the leading goal-scorer in a single season for Roma thanks to his brace, moving to 33 goals, according to the club's website.

He started the day one goal adrift of three legendary Giallorossi hitmen -- Francesco Totti, Rodolfo Volk and Pedro Manfredini -- but leap-frogged all of them over 90 minutes, after two classic finishes.

It took just 12 minutes for Dzeko to get his side ahead, as he turned in Antonio Rudiger's near-post flick-on from a corner match at the Stadio Olimpico.

Then, after half-time, he was once again in the right place at the right time -- finishing from close-range a nudge from Mohamed Salah towards the goal.

Roma chief coach Luciano Spalletti said: "We were below par in the first half and Empoli did better than us by moving the ball around quickly.

"I wouldn't say it was a scrappy win though, just a poor first half. We took the game to them after the break and there can be no disputing we deserved to win."

The win took second-placed Roma to 68 points from 30 games. They are five points behind Juventus but the Turin giants can regain their eight-point lead at the top with a win against third-placed Napoli (65 points) away on Sunday night.

In another match, Lazio beat Sassuolo 2-1 away, thanks to a strike from Ciro Immobile (42nd minute) and an own goal from Francesco Acerbi (83rd). Domenico Berardi's penalty in the 26th minute had put the hosts ahead.

Sassuolo's Lorenzo Pellegrini almost levelled in the final minute but he was denied by the crossbar.