Mariga on target as Parma sink Lazio

Kenya's MacDonald Mariga announced his return to form in style scoring Parma's opening goal in a 3-1 upset win over Lazio with a Sergio Floccari brace against his old club, leaving the fight for third place wide open.

Parma needed points to avoid being sucked into the relegation zone and welcomed back Cristian Zaccardo from a ban and Harambee Stars midfielder Mariga from injury.

Parma took the lead with their first chance of the game. Sebastian Giovinco flicked back from the by-line for Floccari’s header well parried by Federico Marchetti, but Mariga thumped home the rebound.

Floccari just failed to connect with another Giovinco cross, but the move continued. Marchetti flapped at a corner and the wayward Gabriel Paletta volley from the edge of the box turned into an unintentional assist for Floccari to nod in at the back post.

Lazio got one back with their first real shot on target. Substitute Scaloni unleashed a hopeful snapshot from the right side of the pitch and it took a decisive deflection off Massimo Gobbi to wrong-foot Marchetti at the near post.

The Biancocelesti wanted to keep hold of third place and Champions League qualification, but were without Miroslav Klose, Senad Lulic, Marius Stankevicius and the suspended Mobido Diakitè.

Hernanes and Antonio Candreva were benched due to poor form, giving Libor Kozak a rare start with Tommaso Rocchi. In first half stoppages Parma almost got that third, as Jonathan Biabiany’s cross into the six-yard box was turned wide.

Play was halted on 63 minutes when the floodlights at the Stadio Tardini failed. There was a five-minute break while the system warmed back up again and play could resume.

Parma added a third to their tally with Giovinco’s free kick from practically the corner flag, as Floccari’s volley struck the inside of the near post from point-blank range and ricocheted into the net past a stunned Marchetti.

A section of the lights on the stands went off again, but there was enough light for play to continue.

Compiled from footballitalia