Lazio defeated Cagliari 3-1 at the Stadio Sant’Elia on Saturday afternoon in Serie A.
Goals from Miroslav Klose, Lucas Biglia and Marco Parolo saw the Biancocelesti record a eighth consecutive Serie A victory and stay within a point of neighbours Roma, although a relegation threatened Isolani had equalised through Marco Sau.
Cagliari arguably had the better of the first-half and could have taken the lead as early as the sixth minute, Daniele Dessena unable to connect with a Paul-Jose M’Poku cross.
On 16 minutes, Danilo Avelar did well to cut back a ball rolling out to Sau in the box, however, despite turning sharply Mauricio slid in with a perfectly timed challenge.
With many eyes on the in-form Felipe Anderson, it wasn’t until the 28th minute that he worried the hosts — shooting weakly from the edge of the box — however, within three minutes the Brazilian had turned the game in the Aquile’s favour.
Bursting down the right the 21-year-old drove in a low cross that Mauri seemingly stopped reaching Klose, but the Lazio captain controlled and intelligently fed the German who swept it home.
Going behind did not dull the Isolani’s attacking intent, though, as Daniele Dessena forced Federico Marchetti to save low to his right.
The opening period ended with the Biancocelesti custodian also clawing an impressive M’Poku free-kick out from just under the top corner.
Lazio began the second period brightly, Brkic spilling a Candreva long-range effort and smothering Mauri’s follow-up, however, it was the Rossoblu who were next to score.
On 50 minutes Sau seeing his snapshot receive the luck Cagliari’s first-half performance deserved, as it deflected off his marker and over the head of Marchetti into the net.
An inspired substitution saw the match swing back in Lazio’s favour on 61 minutes, Keita Balde’s first involvement drawing a foul from Lorenzo Crisetig in the box for the penalty converted by Biglia.
Things nearly went from bad to worse for the Isolani when the visitors were awarded a second spot-kick seven minutes later and Mobido Diakite saw red — again Keita the man fouled — but Biglia blazed his kick over the crossbar.
With a 10-man Cagliari chasing an equaliser the Biancocelesti raced clear on 77 minutes, but Brkic got enough on Balde’s attempt to allow Antonio Balzano time to clear off the goal line.
Lazio did finally put the game beyond Cagliari in injury-time, Parolo sending a powerful drive past Brkic to finish a well-worked free-kick routine and seal a 3-1 win.
After the visit of Empoli next weekend Lazio face another tough test against reigning Serie A champions Juventus, however, on this run could well leave Turin with all three points and take the second automatic Champions League place comfortably.
For Cagliari though, hopes of retaining Serie A status are fading quickly and trips to Genoa and Fiorentina, either side of a visit from Napoli, are not exactly helpful as they attempt to build some momentum for the vital run-in.
