Lazio beat Sassuolo 6-2 as Mussolini's great-grandson scores first Serie A goal

A chaotic first half

Lazio opened the scoring through Kenneth Taylor in the second minute, and the goal was only confirmed after a VAR check on a possible offside by Davide Frattesi, who stood in the line of the shot. Sassuolo replied almost immediately, with Kristian Thorstvedt equalising in the seventh minute. Gustav Isaksen and then Floriani Mussolini put Lazio back in front, and the visitors led 3-1 by the 17th minute according to ANSA's live report. Thorstvedt was then shown a straight red card shortly after the half-hour for a heavy challenge on Mattia Zaccagni, leaving Sassuolo with ten men. Sebastiano Esposito pulled one back for the home side just before the break, but Zaccagni restored Lazio's two-goal cushion in the first minute of added time, so the teams went in at 4-2.

Floriani Mussolini's goal

Romano Floriani Mussolini, 23, struck in the 16th minute, which AP counted as Lazio's third goal. The goal was first flagged offside and his celebration was cut short, until the video review showed him in a regular position and the goal stood. The defender, a Lazio youth product, has 'Romano' printed on the back of his shirt. It was his first goal in Serie A and only the second of his career, after a second-division strike two years ago while on loan at Juve Stabia. He is related to Benito Mussolini through his mother's side of the family, and he has said publicly that he has no interest in politics.

Speaking to Dazn after the match, he gave credit to Gattuso for the freedom he is allowed on the pitch and said the travelling fans made the stadium feel like home.

“It's incredible to have scored today. I wanted to thank the many fans who came all this way for so much love.”

Penalties and a second-half rout

The second half was dominated by penalties and Lazio's finishing. Stefano Turati, the Sassuolo goalkeeper, saved a spot kick from Zaccagni early in the second half, when the captain's effort was tame, and then stopped a penalty from Davide Frattesi around the hour mark. The Lazio penalties followed a foul on Isaksen by Duje Caleta-Car, and Lazio had earlier been awarded a spot kick after a handball by Simone Cinquegrano. Tijjani Noslin scored twice, first with a curled shot from outside the box that made it 5-2 and later with another long-range strike that completed the scoring at 6-2. Most of the 10,000 or so Lazio supporters who travelled to the Mapei Stadium stayed to see the win, which Gattuso's side had built on a fast start.

Lazio6

Sassuolo2

Lazio

6 goals

Sassuolo

2 goals

Data from the article text

What the win means for the table

The match was the early kick-off of the ninth round of Serie A, and Lazio's win kept their unbeaten start intact and sent them provisionally to the top of the table. Gattuso's side had been boosted by a strong away following at a ground where the club's ultras have boycotted home games for some time over the club leadership. Inter Milan visit bottom side Venezia on Wednesday, 28 October, and would be level on points with Lazio if they win.