Lazio forward Ciro Immobile equalled the Serie A scoring record for a single season when he was on target in his side’s 3-1 loss at Napoli in their final game of the season on Saturday.
In a game which finished with an angry exchange between members of the two team benches, the 30-year-old took his tally to 36 goals, equalling the record set by Gonzalo Higuain for Napoli in the 2015-16 season.
He also finished the season five goals clear of the next leading scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus.
Tempers boiled over at the end as Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso and his counterpart Simone Inzaghi were involved in a heated argument and Gattuso had to be restrained as he ranted at another member of the Lazio staff.
“We said something to each other, there were a few too many words,” said Gattuso afterwards. “I went too far, I have to be honest. The match got us all wound up.”
Inzaghi said: “It wasn’t nice to see but these things happen. The important thing is that it finishes when the game ends.”
Fabian Ruiz gave Napoli a ninth-minute lead with a shot from outside the penalty area which took a deflection and looped into the net, leaving goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha helpless.
Lorenzo Insigne struck the post for Napoli before Immobile equalised in the 22nd minute, sweeping the ball between goalkeeper David Ospina and his near post from Adam Marusic’s pass.
Napoli regained the lead from a penalty in the 54th minute, Insigne sending Strakosha the wrong way after Dries Mertens was caught by Marco Parolo when he was about to shoot. Matteo Politano added a third in stoppage time.
Lazio finished fourth with 78 points and Coppa Italia winners Napoli ended the season seventh with 62 points.
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