Two goals in two minutes just after half time ensured the Biancoceleste strengthened their claim for a place in the Champions League next season and increased the pressure on city rivals Roma, who are now just seven points ahead in second place.

Guglielmo Stendardo opened the scoring after 18 minutes and strikes from Stefano Mauri (49) and Valon Behrami (51) opened up an unassailable lead.

Both sides scored quick-fire penalties with Antonio Di Natale reducing the arrears in the 57th minute before Tommaso Rocchi restored the three-goal cushion which Lazio held until Vincenzo Iaquinta scored at the death.

Udinese finished the game with 10 men as Gaetano De Agostino received his marching orders with 10 minutes remaining, but the game was long-since decided.

With 18 minutes gone, they took the lead with their first effort at goal with Stendardo flicking Cristian Ledesma's lofted free-kick past Morgan De Sanctis with a header from 10 yards.

Christian Manfredini had the visitors' next effort on goal, but De Sanctis was able to get his body in the way this time and the ball trickled past the far post.

The home side kept plugging away and Angelo Peruzzi had to be at full stretch to tip Tomas Sivok's header over the crossbar.

It took just five second half minutes for Lazio to kill the game off.

Ledesma was again involved in the second goal with another free-kick, this one aimed at the far post where Tommaso Rocchi wrapped his foot around the ball to bring it back into the danger zone and find Mauri with an open goal which he was not going to miss from two yards.

And less than two minutes later, Behrami made it three with another clinical finish from 10 yards after Rocchi once again provided the assist from the left.

Even though many disgruntled fans headed for the exits, the home side were not going to give up with 40 minutes still to play and Sivok once again went close to scoring before Zauri handled a Di Natale cross and referee Gianluca Paparesta awarded a penalty.

Di Natale fired the spot-kick into the corner, just beyond Peruzzi's fingertips.

The joy lasted only 60 seconds, though, before Paparesta was again pointing at the spot for a penalty at the other end.

Rocchi was sandwiched between Raffaelo De Martino and Tomas Zapotocny as he headed for goal and the Lazio striker got up to dispatch the spot-kick past De Sanctis.

For the second time, the game appeared over, but Udinese substitute Iaquinta was not so convinced and had a brace of chances to beat Peruzzi.

Paparesta moved to the fore once again as he sent Udinese's D'Agostino off for aiming an elbow at Ledesma as they both challenged for the ball.

Udinese continued to search for another consolation, and they got it with the last kick of the game as Iaquinta beat Peruzzi from close range.