Carpi 1 - 3 AS Roma: Roma up to third as they skip past Carpi

Posted Saturday, February 13, 2016 by PA

Roma climbed to third place in Serie A with a convincing 3-1 victory at relegation-threatened Carpi.

The win, their fourth in succession, takes them to 47 points above Fiorentina and Inter Milan, and continues their revival since the sacking of Rudi Garcia and re-appointment of Luciano Spalletti.

It came via second-half goals from Lucas Digne, Edin Dzeko and Mohamed Salah, Dzeko's effort restoring Roma's lead after Kevin Lasagna had equalised for Carpi.

Following growing pressure from the visitors, Digne scored the game's opening goal in the 56th minute with a long-range screamer that came from nowhere.

Substitute Lasagna scored for Carpi only five minutes later. After heading the ball into Jerry Mbakogu's path, he watched his team-mate send the ball across the six-yard box before routinely tapping in with ease from close range.

Dzeko's goal, in the 84th minute, ended a 10-game drought that had stretched back to November. He had already threatened Carpi, and refused to be disheartened, when Salah ran down the right wing and sent in a low ball to leave the striker with an even easier tap-in than Lasagna, from two yards.

His confidence boosted, Dzeko then played in Radja Nainggolan in the 85th minute, and while Carpi goalkeeper Vid Belec saved, the rebound fell to the impressive Salah, who scored with ease from close range.

Roma's rivals for third, Fiorentina and Inter, face each other in Florence on Sunday.