Serie A: Dzeko strikes as Roma finishes 2016 in second

After trailing in the first half of the game, AS Roma equalised with a free-kick and then scored two more in the second half to defeat Chievo in the Serie A on Thursday night.

Published : Dec 23, 2016 03:16 IST

Edin Dzeko (left) scored the second goal for AS Roma that gave his team the lead.
Edin Dzeko (left) scored the second goal for AS Roma that gave his team the lead.
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Edin Dzeko (left) scored the second goal for AS Roma that gave his team the lead.

Roma came from behind to secure an important 3-1 Serie A victory over Chievo in its final match of 2016 on Thursday.

Jonathan de Guzman opened the scoring on 37 minutes, but Stephan El Shaarawy levelled in first-half injury time with a fine free-kick.

Edin Dzeko converted from close range after the break before Diego Perotti's late penalty completed the turnaround and ensured Roma finish the calendar year in second place in the table, four points behind leaders Juventus, who has played a game less.

Bruno Peres struck the post with a free-kick in a strong opening half-hour from Luciano Spalletti's side, but it was stunned when De Guzman — who bizarrely wears the number one shirt — headed in Mariano Izco's cross to put Chievo ahead.

The Stadio Olimpico was shocked, but was brought to its feet before the break as El Shaarawy bent in a free-kick from 20 yards to level the scores.

Dzeko swept the ball into the bottom corner from close range seven minutes after the restart to put the Giallorossi ahead, and he could have added to his tally when he drilled Peres' cut-back wide of the post before being thwarted by goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino when through one-on-one.

But, Roma's third came in the dying seconds of injury time, as Perotti fired in confidently from the spot after being tripped in the area by Filippo Costa.

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