Roma 3-1 Udinese: Stephan El Shaarawy scores twice as hosts keep touch with Napoli and Juventus
- Edin Dzeko put Roma ahead on 12 minutes with his fifth goal of the season
- All the home goals came in the first half, with Stephan El Shaarawy doubling up
- Udinese got a consolation through Jens Stryger, after the hosts missed a penalty
Stephan El Shaarawy scored twice as Roma eased to a 3-1 win at home to Udinese on Saturday to keep up the pressure on Serie A pace setters Napoli and Juventus.
All the Roma goals came in the first half, with El Shaarawy doubling up after Edin Dzeko's opener.
Roma moved three points off Napoli and Juventus, who will be trying to maintain their perfect records later on Saturday against Spal and Torino respectively.
Roma beat Udinese, Edin Dzeko putting them ahead on 12 minutes with his fifth of the season
All the Roma goals came in the first half, with Stephan El Shaarawy doubling up after Dzeko
El Shaarawy tucked in his second just before half time as Roma went on to triumph 3-1
Dzeko seems determined to retain the Serie A top goalscorer award he won last year and he opened the scoring in the 12th minute.
Radja Nainggolan rode three challenges and managed to get the ball to Dzeko, who slotted into the bottom left corner for his fifth goal in three matches.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina forward turned provider on the half hour when he sent in a low cross for El Shaarawy to coolly flick into the roof of the net.
Udinese got a late consolation through Jens Stryger, after the home side missed a penalty
El Shaarawy doubled his tally on the stroke of halftime, taking advantage of confusion in the Udinese defense to finish off a counter attack he had started.
Udinese defender Jens Stryger appeared to have time to clear Diego Perotti's cross but he hesitated in front of goal and El Shaarawy snuck up behind him to fire it into the net.
Roma could have extended their lead right at the end but Perotti's penalty came off the left post after the Argentina defender had been tripped by Gabriele Angella. Udinese then got a late consolation through Stryger.
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