Zaniolo's solo goal caps Roma win

ROME (Reuters) - AS Roma's 19-year-old midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo scored his first-ever Serie A goal in style on Wednesday with a stunning solo effort to cap his side's 3-1 win over Sassuolo.

Zaniolo was released down the right touchline, cut inside Gian Marco Ferrari leaving the Sassuolo defender on the ground and then chipped the ball cheekily over goalkeeper Andrea Consigli in the 59th minute.

Diego Perotti converted an eighth minute penalty to put Roma ahead following a foul by Ferrari on Patrik Schick, the referee confirming the decision following a VAR review amid Sassuolo protests.

Having nearly scored an own goal when his attempted clearance from a Domenico Berardi cross hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced out, Schick then added Roma's second in the 23rd minute.

Roma climbed to seventh with 27 points while Sassuolo, who grabbed a consolation through Khouma Babacar in stoppage time, are one of four teams on 25 points.

(Writing by Brian Homewood, editing by Pritha Sarkar)