Lazio's Ciro Immobile celebrates after scoring with penalty against Venezia during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Venezia, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, in Rome, Italy, Monday, March 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Associated Press
ROME (AP) - Ciro Immobile converted a penalty to become Lazio's all-time leading scorer in Serie A as the Rome club beat relegation-threatened Venezia 1-0 on Monday.
The victory enabled Lazio to leapfrog Atalanta and Roma into fifth place, boosting its chances of direct qualification for the Europa League.
Immobile's second-half goal was his 144th in Serie A with Lazio, breaking a tie with Silvio Piola, whose 274 with Lazio and other teams from 1930-54 make him the league's overall record scorer.
Immobile had already surpassed Piola to become Lazio's top scorer across all competitions.
It was a perfect warmup for Lazio ahead of the Rome derby next weekend.
Venezia remained three points from safety.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Lazio's Ciro Immobile scores with penalty against Venezia during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Venezia, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, in Rome, Italy, Monday, March 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Associated Press
Lazio's Ciro Immobile, center right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring with a penalty against Venezia during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Venezia, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, in Rome, Italy, Monday, March 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Associated Press
Lazio's Ciro Immobile celebrates after scoring with penalty against Venezia during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Venezia, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, in Rome, Italy, Monday, March 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Associated Press
Lazio's Ciro Immobile celebrates after scoring with penalty against Venezia during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Venezia, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, in Rome, Italy, Monday, March 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Associated Press