Dzeko strikes late to hand Roma precious win at Frosinone

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Edin Dzeko scored twice, including a stoppage-time winner, to give Roma a precious 3-2 win at Frosinone on Saturday and keep the pressure on AC Milan in the Serie A battle for Champions League places.

Roma went into the game four points behind fourth-placed Milan and were on the brink of dropping points against their relegation-threatened regional rivals at the Stadio Benito Stirpe before Dzeko bundled home the last kick of the game.

Camillo Ciano opened the scoring for Frosinone after just five minutes thanks to an error from Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who parried the striker's long-range effort into his own net.

Yet Roma took the lead after 30 minutes with two goals in the space of 72 seconds.

First, Dzeko capitalized on hesitant defending to fire in a finish and Frosinone had barely recovered before Lorenzo Pellegrini tapped in a rebound at the back post after Stephan El Shaarawy's shot was only parried by Marco Sportiello.

Kostas Manolas of AS Roma is sent out of the pitch due to injury during the Serie A match between Frosinone and AS Roma at Stadio Benito Stirpe, Frosinone, Italy, February 23, 2019. /VCG Photo

The hosts drew level with 10 minutes left through substitute Andrea Pinamonti, but in the fifth minute of added time Roma found the winner when Dzeko met El Shaarawy's cross from close range and finished with his thigh.

The result leaves Roma in fifth place on 44 points, one point behind Milan, while Frosinone remain in deep trouble in 19th place on 16 points, five points adrift of 17th-placed Empoli.

Earlier on Saturday, Torino beat Atalanta 2-0 at home to draw level with Gian Piero Gasperini's side and sixth-placed Lazio on 38 points thanks to goals from Armando Izzo and Iago Falque either side of the break.

On Sunday, there will be six matches: Sampodoria vs. Cagliari, Sassuolo vs. SPAL, Bologna vs. Juventus, Chievo Verona vs. Genoa, Parma Calcio vs. Napoli, Fiorentina vs. Inter. And Lazio will face Udinese on Monday to finish the Round 25.

Source(s): Reuters