Hernanes grabbed the only goal of the game to give Lazio a 1-0 win at Sampdoria and move the club into second place in the Serie A standings.
The Brazilian midfielder scored his seventh goal of this season to claim all three points at the Marassi stadium in Genoa on Saturday.
The home side had dominated the opening exchanges and went close through Nenad Krsticic, who shot wide from the left side of the Lazio box.
Two minutes later Sampdoria almost made it 1-0 when some good play by Gianni Munari set up Eder, but the Brazilian’s shot was kept out by a great diving save from Federico Marchetti.
Lazio eventually forced Samp to pay for not taking their chances just after the half-hour mark when Senad Lulic ran down the left and pulled back the ball for Hernanes, whose shot deflected in off Daniele Gastaldello.
Gastaldello himself could have restored parity for his side just before the half-time interval, but his glancing header went just inches wide.
Lazio came more into the game in the second half and had chances to double their lead when Abdoulay Konko tried a long-range effort but failed to keep it on target and Brazilian defender Andre Dias headed high over the bar.
Chances were few and far between for the rest of the second period but Lazio had done enough to take the win through Hernanes’ goal.
The 27-year-old, who recnently had to deny stalling over signing a new contract due to interest from Inter Milan, has been nominated for the 2012 Samba Gold Trophy.
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