Lazio moved joint-top of Serie A after recovering from a difficult first half to beat Venezia 2-0, leaving the hosts without a point from their opening five matches.
Venezia dominated much of the opening period and were handed an early opportunity when Christos Mandas brought down wing-back Thierry Correia following a mistake in Lazio’s defence.
Mandas made amends immediately, diving low to his left to keep out John Yeboah’s penalty from 12 yards. The Greece international was called into action again soon afterwards, using his palms to repel a powerful volley from Simon Sohm.
Antoine Hainaut then sent a cross narrowly beyond the Venezia players arriving at the far post, while Akor Adams was unable to beat Mandas after being released by Yeboah.
Lazio goalkeeper Mandas continued to frustrate the home side, saving another curling effort from Hainaut as Venezia maintained the pressure.
Gennaro Gattuso’s side had won three of their first four Serie A matches, but they looked far from that form during a first half in which they were largely outplayed by the division’s bottom team.
Their best chance before the interval came almost against the run of play. Matteo Cancellieri cut in from the right and sent a fierce curling shot just wide of Filip Stankovic’s goal.
That effort helped Lazio emerge with greater purpose after the break, and they were soon awarded a penalty when Yeboah fouled Kenneth Taylor.
Lazio captain Mattia Zaccagni took responsibility and placed his spot-kick into the top-left corner to score his first goal of the season and give the visitors the lead.
Lazio effectively settled the contest on the hour. Former Arsenal player Nuno Tavares delivered a well-weighted cross, allowing Tijjani Noslin to head home from close range and find the bottom corner.
The goal continued Noslin’s strong run after he scored against Milan last weekend, while it also ended Venezia’s hopes of collecting their first point of the campaign.
The victory gives Lazio 13 points from their opening five fixtures, the club’s best start to a Serie A season.
Venezia, meanwhile, must improve quickly if they are to avoid extending an unwanted record: they have been relegated in every Serie A campaign they have played during the current century.
Christos Mandas was named Flashscore’s Man of the Match.