Milan, April 27: Joaquin Correa scored twice as Lazio beat AC Milan 3-0 in Serie A to boost its chances of qualifying for the Champions League.
Correa scored his first after just 77 seconds and doubled his tally in the 51st minute. Ciro Immobile completed the scoring three minutes from time.
Lazio closed to within five points of fourth place and the final Champions League berth, having played a match less than the teams above it.
Third-placed Napoli, which earlier beat relegation-threatened Torino 2-0, has the same amount of points as Juventus and Milan, which dropped to fifth. Second-placed Atalanta has two points more.
Head-to-head record is the first deciding factor in Serie A, followed by goal difference.
Milan was looking to move back into second place but was without top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic and got off to the worst possible start when Correa played a quick one-two with Immobile, rounded Gianluigi Donnarumma and deposited into the empty net.
It was Lazio’s quickest goal in Serie A since statistics supplier Opta started collecting that data in 2004.
Correa almost doubled his tally immediately but Donnarumma pulled off a fantastic save to deny him at point-blank range.
Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina also performed in the first half and his side doubled its lead six minutes after the break when Correa burst into the area, rode an attempt at a tackle from Milan defender Fikayo Tomori and blasted into the roof of the net.
Two goals in as many minutes from Ti mou Bakayoko and Victor Osimhen had Napoli firmly in control by halftime. Torino remained above the relegation zone thanks only to a better head-to-head record against 18th-placed Benevento. (AP)
