ROME -- A defensive blunder helped decide a heated Rome derby but many fans werent there to see it due to a protest.Lazios Brazilian defender Wallace gifted the ball to Kevin Strootman, who scored Romas opener midway through the second half and Radja Nainggolan then doubled the lead for a 2-0 win Sunday.Romas celebrations were not as loud as usual because the clubs most ardent supporters stayed away from the match in protest at plexiglass security barriers introduced at the start of last season in their area.Normally filled with supporters waving huge banners, lighting flares and singing, half of the curva sud -- southern end -- of the Stadio Olimpico was left empty.Its ugly to see, said Strootman, who scored with a delicate chip shot over Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti. The fans who did come were very helpful to us and these were three very important points. Hopefully the others will come to the next matches because we need our fans.The victory moved Roma back into second place, four points behind Juventus, which beat Atalanta 3-1 on Saturday.AC Milan is level on points with Roma in third after coming from a goal down to beat visiting Crotone 2-1.In the next round, Roma hosts Milan.After Strootmans goal and an extended celebration, words appeared to be exchanged as Romas players walked back onto the pitch alongside Lazios bench.Strootman appeared to toss water from a bottle at Lazios Danilo Cataldi, who reacted by tugging the neck of Strootmans shirt as the Netherlands midfielder walked away.That prompted both benches to get involved, leading to a general melee.Cataldi, who had been on the bench, was red carded, while Strootman was shown a yellow.Ten minutes later, Nainggolan scored with a long, bouncing shot inside the near post that appeared to surprise Marchetti.Roma has now won four straight in the Derby della Capitale series, outscoring Lazio 10-2. Lazios last derby win came in the 2013 Italian Cup final, while its last derby victory in Serie A came more than four years ago.Neither side produced a clear chance in the first half of a match that was not pretty to watch.Since Ive come to Roma Ive never played in a beautiful derby, Strootman said. Neither squad wants to make a mistake.We didnt have many chances but we won and got some important points, Strootman added.Lazio is fifth, four points behind Roma.Francesco Totti, Romas 40-year-old captain, stayed on the bench.---AC MILAN 2, CROTONE 1Gianluca Lapadula is getting quite comfortable in his new role as AC Milans center forward.Filling in for the injured Carlos Bacca, Lapadula earned a penalty and scored a late winner in a 2-1 win over visiting Crotone.It was Lapadulas fourth goal in four matches -- the first four of the Serie A career of a 26-year-old considered a late bloomer.Lapadula always plays with a lot of passion and thats his strength, Milan coach Vincenzo Montella said. That was the type of goal that he scores. Hes a real striker, the type that I like who can provide guarantees over the course of a season.Diego Falcinelli had put Crotone ahead midway through the first half and Mario Pasalic equalized for Milan before the break.With the score 1-1, MBaye Niang had a penalty blocked by Crotone goalkeeper Alex Cordaz.It was a complicated match. Compliments to Crotone, Montella said. It was a struggle to win but we really wanted it.Milan has lost just one of its last 12 matchesCrotone is last with just six points from 15 matches.Falcinellis goal, his fifth of the season, was facilitated by poor defense from Milan that allowed him to score from the center of the area uncontested.Pasalic, who is on loan from Chelsea, scored his first goal in Serie A with a header following a corner.Early in the second half, Lapadula was fouled inside the area to set up Niangs penalty but Cordaz dived in the right direction to make the save.In the 86th, Lapadula took advantage of a rebound following a free kick to win it.Lapadula, who scored 27 goals in 40 Serie B matches for Pescara before joining Milan, recently earned his first call up to Italys national team. He could become an even more integral member of the Rossoneri if Bacca departs as rumored in January.Bacca was recently seen attending a match of his former club Sevilla, adding to speculation over his possible departure.---OTHER GAMES:Khouma Babacar scored an injury-time winner as Fiorentina beat struggling Palermo 2-1.Federico Bernardeschi had put Fiorentina ahead with a header and Mato Jajalo equalized with a curling free kick for Palermo early in the second half.In other matches, it was: Pescara 1, Cagliari 1; Sampdoria 2, Torino 0; and Sassuolo 3, Empoli 0.---Andrew Dampf on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/asdampf . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months. . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. Mal Meninga has hinted he would have left Andrew Fifita out of the Indigenous All Stars side as the controversial Cronulla prop contends with the possibility of an NRL ban.Fifitia was on Wednesday named in coach Laurie Daleys 20-man squad for the February 10 clash against Meningas World All Stars, a day after receiving a breach notice from the NRL.The 27-year-old was asked to show cause over his relationship with convicted one-punch killer Kieran Loveridge.Fifita could be rubbed out for the start of the 2017 season but is reportedly likely to cop a $20,000 fine after writing FKL - a message of support for childhood friend Loveridge, who is serving a 10-year jail sentence for the killing of Thomas Kelly in Kings Cross in 2012.Australian coach Meninga refused to pick Fifita for the recent Four Nations tour because of the integrity units investigations and because he was not considered a fit and proper character.While Meninga said he had no problem with Fifita lining up for the exhibition game in Newcastle, he said the character of the player should be considered.I would suggest to you that is a good point - the character of the person on and off the field really matters when you select representative footy sides, Meninga said.Daley said Fifitas involvement in the game was dependent upon him not being banned.The selection criteria was he was available so the fans have picked him so hes been included, Daley said.Ive coached him before and certainly had no issues with him. Hes always proud and he loves playing in this game.It will depend on what the breach notice says and whether its a fine or whether hes looking at missing games. He has been selected subject to him being cleared.Fifita has played in the 2012, 2013 and 2016 All Stars games..ddddddddddddDespite a blockbusting 2016 season during the Sharks premiership campaign, he was not considered for the Australian squad and was snubbed for the Clive Churchill Medal, despite a match-winning display in the Sharks grand final win.However Daley had no concerns about selecting him for the All Stars game.Andrew Fifita had a terrific year last year, Daley said.Id say hed be looking to put it all (the Loveridge saga) behind him over the next three or four days.Fifita will line up in a strong indigenous side which will feature Kangaroos representatives Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis, Sam Thaiday and Blake Ferguson.The World All Stars have included Jarryd Hayne at fullback however Queensland and Australian captain Cameron Smith was not picked because of his packed schedule during the next 12 months which will include the World Cup.Sydney Roosters rake Jake Friend will slot in at No.9 in Smiths absence while Mitchell Moses and Adam Reynolds will line up in the halves.Indigenous All Stars: Jack Wighton, Blake Ferguson, Greg Inglis, Will Chambers, Dane Gagai, Johnathan Thurston, Ash Taylor, Ryan James, Nathan Peats, Andrew Fifita, Joel Thompson, Wade Graham, Sam Thaiday. Interchange: Tyrone Peachey, Jack Bird, Leilani Latu, Latrell Mitchell, Aidan Sezer, Kyle Turner, Adam Elliott.World All Stars: Jarryd Hayne, David Mead, Joseph Leilua, Konrad Hurrell, Nene Macdonald, Mitchell Moses, Adam Reynolds, Nate Myles, Jake Friend, Jordan McLean, Gavin Cooper, Bryce Cartwright, Jake Trbojevic. Interchange: Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Sosaia Feki, Sione Matautia, Sam Lisone, Moses Mbye, Tepai Moeroa, Jordan Turner. ' ' '
