Villarreal kept their Europa League hopes alive with an incident-packed victory over Lazio in Group G.

Robert Pires put the home side in front with less than two minutes gone and Lazio were reduced to 10 men moments later.

Ruben Cani (13) made it 2-0 and the game was effectively over when Pires scored his second from the penalty spot after 14 minutes.

Villarreal were also reduced to 10 men after 31 minutes when Gonzalo Rodriguez was dismissed, but Pasquale Foggia blasted the resulting penalty off the bar.

Mauro Zarate (73) did pull one back eventually but Giuseppe Rossi slotted home another penalty eight minutes from the end.

In a sensational start to the game, Tommaso Rocchi could have put Lazio in front after 47 seconds, but he saw his shot saved by Diego Lopez.

And with just one minute 50 seconds on the clock, the visitors found themselves behind in comical circumstances.

Pires whipped in a long-range free-kick which was missed by everyone in the area, including team-mates Joseba Llorente and Nilmar, before bouncing into the corner.

Worse was soon to follow for Lazio who were down to 10 men after just three minutes.

Roberto Baronio flung his left arm in the direction of Llorente's face and although contact looked minimal, Llorente threw himself to the floor in dramatic fashion.

It was an embarrassing reaction from the striker but enough to convince referee Knut Kircher, who produced a red card despite Lazio's protests.

Villarreal quickly took advantage of their numerical superiority, Cani collecting a pass from Pires and creating enough space for himself to fire into the bottom corner from just outside the area.

And barely a minute later it was 3-0 as Modibo Diakite was penalised for a foul on Nilmar and Pires scored from the spot, despite goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri getting a hand to the ball.

Lazio wasted a glorious chance to get back into the game after Gonzalo Rodriguez brought down Rocchi as he bore down on goal and, as the last defender, could have few complaints to see referee Kircher brandishing a red card.

That meant both sides were down to 10 men but Pasquale Foggia was unable to reduce the deficit from the spot, smashing a left-foot shot against the bar.

Villarreal were forced to make a change early in the second half, substitute goalkeeper Xabi Oliva replacing Lopez.

Lazio had also brought on Zarate after 52 minutes and the Argentinian striker gave Lazio hope of an unlikely comeback when he fired home following Pereira Eliseu's pass from the byline.

But Villarreal made sure of the win with a fourth goal after 82 minutes when Stefano Mauri was penalised for bringing down Cani.

Substitute Rossi calmly slotted home from the spot.

Teams:

Villarreal Diego Lopez (Oliva 53), Angel, Rodriguez, Godin, Capdevila, Cani, Bruno, Eguren, Pires (Rossi 78), Nilmar,Llorente (Marcano 57).

Subs Not Used: David Fuster, Javi Venta, Jonathan Pereira,

Escudero.

Sent Off: Rodriguez (33).

Booked: Llorente, Bruno.

Goals: Pires 3, Cani 13, Pires 16 pen, Rossi 83 pen.

Lazio Bizzarri, Lichtsteiner, Siviglia (Zarate 52), Diakite, Radu, Eliseu, Mauri, Baronio, Perpetuini (Kolarov 53),Rocchi (Makinwa 64), Foggia.

Subs Not Used: Muslera, Scaloni, Cribari, Brocchi.

Sent Off: Baronio (4).

Booked: Radu, Rocchi, Foggia, Eliseu, Zarate.

Goals: Zarate 73.

Att: 14,000

Ref: Knut Kircher (Germany).