Lazio punish Bologna for miscue

Lazio clinched their third straight victory in Serie A and climbed into second place by beating Bologna 2-0 this evening. A first-half own goal by Bologna striker Robert Acquafresca put the visitors on their way before Lazio's Senad Lulic doubled his team's advantage early in the second half. Bologna, with just one victory so far, could not find a way past Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti and slipped to their fifth defeat of the campaign. The result lifted Edy Reja's men to just one point behind league leaders Udinese after seven games. Lazio went into the encounter at the Renato Dall' Ara stadium looking to replicate the form that saw them beat Roma 2-1 in last weekend's Eternal City derby. Lazio struggled to put a good move together in the opening 20 minutes and were fortunate to go in front midway through the first half as Hernanes' powerful free-kick was deflected into his own net by Acquafresca. Acquafresca almost equalised a minute later, but his right-footed strike from the edge of the area was kept out by Marchetti. The home side continued to push forward and was nearly rewarded in the 35th minute. With Marchetti out of position, Acquafresca struck a goalbound shot from 15 yards but Lulic made a vital clearance to deny Bologna's equaliser. On the stroke of half-time, Gaston Ramirez's stinging drive from 30 yards was kept out by Marchetti. Lazio extended their advantage three minutes after the restart. Djibril Cisse fed Lulic inside the area and his powerful shot beat Bologna goalkeeper Federico Agliardi. Bologna surged forward more aggressively, but could not find a way past Lazio's well-placed defence. With 15 minutes remaining, Archimede Morleo's curled free-kick forced Marchetti to dive to his right to keep the ball out. At the other end, Lulic found Cisse inside the area and the Frenchman's eight-yard effort went just wide of the far post and Lazio held on for their third win on the road this season.