Lazio beat Genoa to secure Champions League boost

AFP, Saturday 14 May 2011

Lazio gave their hopes of playing in next season's Champions League a boost by thumping Genoa 4-2 in Rome on Saturday

Lazio
Serie A outfit Lazio booked a place in the CHampions League next season after beating Genoa

Brazilian Hernanes scored twice while Giuseppe Biava and Tommaso Rocchi also got their names on the scoresheet as Rodrigo Palacio and Antonio Floro Flores replied for the visitors at the Stadio Olimpico.

Lazio moved temporarily at least above Udinese into fourth place but the northerners could reclaim their two-point advantage if they win at Chievo on Sunday.

It means Lazio have also piled the pressure on neighbours Roma who will have to win at Catania on Sunday to keep pace with their city rivals.

Biava gave the Romans an early lead on seven minutes when he headed home a corner.

But Palacio equalised when he arrived at the back post to beat Fernando Muslera after some pinball in the Lazio area.

Rocchi scored a sublime goal on 52 minutes when he beat the offside trap, took a high ball down with one touch and then despatched the ball past Eduardo with his second.

Hernanes struck twice within 10 minutes before Floro Flores touched home a Domenico Criscito volley a minute from time.

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