Lazio stopped the rot as goals from Pasquale Foggia and Aleksandar Kolarov lifted the Roman side to victory at Lecce.

Foggia struck in the 10th minute before Kolarov extended his team's lead shortly after the re-start to hand Lazio their first win in Serie A since January 11.

Luck was not on Lecce's side, with the hosts being denied by the post three times, with Lazio goalkeeper Fernando Muslera already beaten.

The outcome left Delio Rossi's side 11th in the standings, eight points behind Roma, who hold the last European qualifying spot.

Lazio went into the encounter at the Via del Mare stadium having taken just one point in their previous five league games.

The Biancoceleste were boosted by the presence of the team's top scorer, Mauro Zarate, who missed last weekend's 1-1 draw against Torino through suspension.

Lecce almost scored in the opening minute with Daniele Cacia's strike inside the area rebounding off the far post.

Lazio responded when, with eights minutes played, Zarate dribbled the ball into the area before unleashing a shot which struck the crossbar, with goalkeeper Francesco Benussi beaten.

The visitors broke the deadlock soon after. Stephan Lichtsteiner played Foggia inside the area, who fired past Benussi.

Once in front Lazio set about trying to tear the visitors apart.

In the 17th minute, Goran Pandev had a goal disallowed for a clear offside.

Midway through the first half, Kolarov tried his luck from long range but Benussi did well to save.

Lecce were unlucky not to level the score on the half-hour mark. Simone Tiribocchi, with his back to goal 15 yards out, spun on the ball and whipped in a shot which rebounded off the far post.

Luca Ariatti tried to surprise Muslera but his effort blazed over the bar in what was the last chance of the opening half.

Lazio showed plenty of determination after the restart and extended their lead soon after.

Foggia's cross found Kolarov, who made a run on the left before firing a long-range angled effort that stunned Benussi.

Lecce should have reduced the deficit in the 53rd minute but Cacia's close-range header from Caserta's cross went inches wide of the near post.

The hosts, looking to avoid their third consecutive slip, never gave up hope and their efforts almost paid off in the 80th minute.

However, Muslera made a fine save to clear Dusan Basta's powerful header from inside the area.

At the other end, Benussi twice denied Foggia from close range as Lazio tried to kill the game off.

Mario Beretta's men could not believe their luck as Ariatti's powerful right-footed strike from distance hit the far post, much to Muslera's relief and the home fans' disbelief.

Basta then made a crucial clearance from Pandev's effort on goal, with Benussi already beaten in what was the last chance of the game.

The result Lecce drop to the relegation zone, one point behind Torino, who hold the last position of safety.