Mussolini's debut strike fuels Lazio's unbeaten surge

Romano Floriani Mussolini, 23, scored Lazio’s third goal in the 16th minute of a 6‑2 Serie A win over Sassuolo on Tuesday evening, giving the defender his first strike for the club and his first in Italy’s top flight in the match.

His celebration was briefly halted when the assistant referee raised the offside flag, but the decision was reversed after a video review, allowing the young Lazio youth product to revel in his milestone. The overturn confirmed the goal and restored the momentum for the hosts.

The strike marked Mussolini’s first goal in the Italian top flight and only the second of his professional career. His inaugural senior goal came two years ago in the second division while on loan at Juve Stabia.

Born Romano Benito Floriani Mussolini, he is linked to the former dictator through his mother’s side of the family. He has publicly declared that he holds no interest in politics.

Serie A sees Lazio's fan boycott meet 10,000 Sassuolo fans as Round 9 starts

First‑half breakthrough

Lazio had already taken a second‑minute lead through Kenneth Taylor before the game resumed after a lengthy VAR check, only for Kristian Thorstvedt to equalise. Quick goals from Gustav Isaksen and Mussolini then put the hosts back in control, and Thorstvedt received a red card after a foul on Mattia Zaccagni just after the half‑hour mark.

Second‑half drama

Sassuolo pulled one back two minutes from the break via Sebastiano Esposito, but Lazio restored a two‑goal advantage in added time before halftime when Zaccagni headed in from an Isaksen cross. Early in the second half, captain Mattia Zaccagni’s penalty was saved by Stefano Turati, and Tijjani Noslin added a fifth goal with a curled effort from outside the box.

League implications

A second penalty later saw Turati deny Davide Frattesi, while Noslin completed his double with another long‑range strike, sealing a 6‑2 rout. The victory kept Lazio unbeaten and propelled them to the provisional top of the Serie A table.

Lazio seize top spot after explosive attack by Taylor and Noslin

Gattuso’s side now boast eight wins from nine games, sitting on 25 points, three clear of Inter Milan, who travel to bottom‑placed Venezia on Wednesday. The win reinforces Lazio’s reputation as genuine title contenders.