Lazio 2-0 Hellas Verona

Lazio reeled off their sixth consecutive Serie A win on Sunday when they claimed a 2-0 triumph over Hellas Verona.Looking to keep the pressure on second-place Roma, Lazio took the lead when Felipe Anderson scored his ninth goal of the campaign in the fourth minute.Not long after, Vangelis Moras nearly pulled the visitors level but he was denied by the post.After Lazio's Lucas Biglia hit the crossbar in the 27th minute, the hosts doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when Antonio Candreva hit the back of the net with a free-kick.The Biancoceleste almost added to their advantage but Felipe Anderson hit the bar just past the hour mark.The outcome at the Stadio Olimpico has kept Lazio in third place and just one point behind city rivals Roma, who won 1-0 at Cesena.Hellas, unbeaten in their previous four games, did not produce the same performance that saw them defeat Napoli 2-0 last week.They have dropped two places to 16th in the standings.Lazio went into the contest having given away just one goal in their last five games.They hardly wasted any time in moving in front, with Felipe Anderson getting past his marker and headed Dustan Basta's cross from the left past Hellas Verona goalkeeper Francesco Benussi for his ninth goal of the campaign.Verona were unlucky not to pull level shortly after when Moras' right-footed attempt from six yards beat Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti but found the woodwork.It proved to be their best chance of the match and Lazio twice had the opportunity to double their lead.Marco Parolo's stinging drive from 30 yards was saved by Benussi and the keeper was called on again to fully stretch to clear Miroslav Klose's attempt from inside the box.The hosts continued to press forward and were almost rewarded but Biglia's 30-yard volley hit the bar with Benussi already beaten.Benussi then kept out Candreva's 30-yard effort but Lazio finally added to their advantage before the interval.Candreva was fouled just outside the area and the Italy international struck a powerful free-kick past Benussi to make it 2-0.The visitors struggled to break through a Lazio defence which has been getting better week by week.Lazio almost made it 3-0 in the 63rd minute but Felipe Anderson saw his right-footed shot from 14 yards rattle the crossbar with Benussi rooted to the spot.The home side eased to victory the rest of the way.ends