How Immobile equaled scoring record as Roma win at Juventus
Lazio forward Ciro Immobile equaled the Serie A scoring record for a single season when he was on target in his side’s 3-1 loss at Napoli in their final game of the season.
The 30-year-old took his tally to 36 goals, equalling the record set by Gonzalo Higuaín for Napoli in the 2015-16 season. He also finished the season five goals clear of the next leading scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus.
Fabian Ruiz gave Napoli a ninth-minute lead with a shot from outside the penalty area which took a deflection. Lorenzo Insigne struck the post for Napoli before Immobile equalized in the 22nd minute, sweeping the ball between goalkeeper David Ospina and his near post from Adam Marusic’s pass.
Napoli regained the lead from a penalty in the 54th minute, Insigne sending Thomas Strakosha the wrong way after Dries Mertens was caught by Marco Parolo when he was about to shoot. Matteo Politano added a third in stoppage time.
Lazio finished fourth with 78 points and Coppa Italia winners Napoli ended the season seventh with 62 points.
Champions Juventus suffered their first home league defeat for over two years when they finished the season by losing 3-1 against Roma.
The Turin side, last beaten on their own ground in a Serie A match by Napoli in April 2018, have lost both their games since clinching the title one week ago and finished the campaign with 83 points, one ahead of Inter Milan.
Juventus rested several regulars including Ronaldo but went ahead with a Higuaín goal in the fifth minute. Nikola Kalinic headed Roma level and Diego Perotti put the visitors ahead from a penalty before half-time. Perotti added the third in the 52nd minute following a dazzling run by Nicolo Zaniolo.
Internazionale clinched second place, disparagingly described by coach Antonio Conte last month as the “best of the losers”, when they ended Atalanta’s 19-match unbeaten run with a 2-0 away win.
