Roma defeat Lazio in the derby

Published Sep. 22, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Roma remained perfect in Serie A with a 2-0 win over rival Lazio in the city derby Sunday, with fullback Federico Balzaretti scoring the decisive goal and the Giallorossi's 36-year-old captain Francesco Totti again proving decisive.

Two days after extending his contract for two more seasons, Totti provided the cross in the 63rd minute when Balzaretti volleyed in for his first goal in Serie A since April 2011, when he played for Palermo.

Seconds before his goal, Balzaretti hit the post.

Lazio's best chance at the Stadio Olimpico came when the ball bounced just wide off Miroslav Klose's thigh in the 55th. Lazio was reduced to 10 men when Andre Dias was sent off for a last-man foul on Totti in the 82nd.

New signing Adem Ljajic earned and converted a penalty for Roma in added time.

Lazio had won four of the last five derbies, including a victory in last season's Italian Cup final, which left Roma and its fans despondent throughout the summer.

''We put the church back in the center of town,'' Roma's new coach Rudi Garcia said, using a proverb from nis native French tonque. ''It was a huge match for us and for our fans and like I said, `You don't play the derby, you win it.'''

Roma moved two points ahead of Juventus, Inter Milan and Fiorentina.