Ederson scored a vital away goal as Lazio claimed a 2-0 first leg win over Stuttgart in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

The Brazilian put the Italian side ahead midway through the first half at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, despite the home side’s early dominance.

William Kvist and Arthur Boka made a mess of trying to clear a routine cross into the area and the ball fell to Ederson, who immediately turned and fired into the bottom right corner of Sven Ulreich’s goal.

The hosts then lost Alexandru Maxim to injury when he fell awkwardly after a collision with Brazilian star Hernanes.

Stuttgart could have conceded again moments later, with Michael Ciani heading just wide after rising highest to get on the end of a cross from Antonio Candreva.

Ederson almost netted a second before the break when he nodded Antonio Candreva’s chipped cross into the ground and over at the back post.

The Bundesliga outfit also went extremely close moments later, as a diving header from Shinji Okazaki whistled across the face of goal and inches wide from six yards.

The Biancocelesti made it 2-0 after the restart thanks to a sensational goal from Nigeria international Eddy Onazi.

The 20-year-old gained possession in the centre circle, skipped past two challenges and cooly lifted the ball past the on-rushing goalkeeper for his first goal at senior level.

Once again, though, the hosts had an almost immediate chance to get themselves back into the tie through Okazaki, but the Japanese striker dragged his volley wide of the post.

Lazio's Lorik Cana was booked in the final minutes and will be suspended for the second leg on March 14, which will be played behind closed doors at the Stadio Olimpico after UEFA imposed a two-match ban for repeated instances of racism from a section of the Italian supporters.