April 28, 2019: Sampdoria Lazio 1-2
- Simon Basten
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Strange, Caicedo scores early!!!!
Uncharacteristically Felipe Caicedo scores an early brace allowing Lazio to win against Sampdoria
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had been heavily penalised by the introduction of the VAR. The referees took it in turns to not use it when Lazio played or to use it in the wrong way. But Lazio had played well and, as usual, just missed out of Champions League qualification, arriving fifth, losing the decisive match at home against Inter.
The star signings of the summer were Francesco Acerbi, who took the place in the centre of defence left vacant by Stefan De Vrij who had gone to Inter as a free agent refusing to sign a new contract with Lazio, and Joaquin Correa, exciting Argentinian player from Sevilla, who substituted Felipe Anderson sold to West Ham United. Other signings included Riza Durmisi (Betis), Valon Berisha (Salzburg), free agents Silvio Proto and Milan Badelj plus the return of Danilo Cataldi from his loan at Benevento. Also leaving were Davide Di Gennaro (loan to Salernitana), Ivan Vargic (loan, Anorthosis), Nani (end of loan, Valencia), Filip Djordjevic (end of contract) and Luca Crecco (Pescara)
So far, the season had been a little bit disappointing. Lazio were currently eighth, four points away from Milan and Atalanta in fourth position. Unable to come to terms with the bigger teams, Lazio also occasionally struggled with the smaller ones. The star players such as Luis Alberto and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic were not playing up to par. With five games left, Champions League was no longer a possibility.
In Europa League Lazio came second in their group behind Eintracht Frankfurt but were knocked out in the round of 32 by Sevilla, also due to being denied an obvious penalty, which could have been a game changer, in the return match. VAR was yet to be introduced for the European competition.
In Coppa Italia, the Biancocelesti had beaten Novara 4-1 in the round of 32, Inter away on penalties in the quarter final and Milan in the semi-final. They would be playing Atalanta in the final.
The match: Sunday, April 28, 2019, Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
Minute number three. Omar Colley tried to start play from the half way line but was dispossessed by Felipe Caicedo who ran towards the box followed by the Gambian who could not keep up as Felipao entered the penalty area and comfortably beat Emil Audero. Lazio already ahead.
And it could have been 2-0 shortly after when Joaquin Correa dribbled past a few players, entered the box on the left and from very close to the byline tried a shot which Audero parried.
Sampdoria attacked but it was Lazio who scored again. Fabio Quagliarella from the left of the Lazio box tried to pass towards the centre but the ball was intercepted by Lucas Leiva who passed to Correa on the right wing. The Argentinian moved centrally but saw Romulo advancing on the wing, ball to him, cross and Caicedo headed it in for the 2-0 and his brace. A rarity for the Ecuadorian to score so early in a match!!!
Samp tried a comeback but were only dangerous on a Gaston Ramirez free kick very well saved by Thomas Strakosha. Caicedo had a couple of chances to score his hat-trick but the first half ended on 2-0 for Lazio. The home team however would be playing in ten men as Ramirez was shown a second yellow card and sent off in the 45th minute.
In the second half the Biancocelesti almost made it three. On the counter attack in the 54th minute Caicedo to Romulo on the right. The Brazilian entered the box and tried a shot which hit the woodwork on the far post. After another chance for Caicedo, Sampdoria reduced the deficit. In the 57th minute Albin Ekdal tried a lob over the Lazio defensive duo, Francesco Acerbi tried to head the ball away but it became a perfect pass to Quagliarella who had no difficulty in scoring.
The goal gave new life to Sampdoria who almost equalised with Nicola Murru who from the left outside the box let go a massive whack which hit the post. Then it was Lazio to hit the crossbar with Ciro Immobile on a freekick in the 75th minute. The ball bounced back on the line, just about. A minute later Jakub Jankto crossed low in the box for Gregoire Defrel completely alone in the centre of the area, but the Frenchman kicked the ball wide.
Lazio managed to bring back the three points, but they had over complicated matters.
Who played for Sampdoria
Audero, Sala (82' Gabbiadini), Ferrari, Colley (16' Tonelli), Murru, Praet, Ekdal, Linetty (46' Jankto), Ramirez, Defrel, Quagliarella
Substitutes: Rafel, Belec, Bereszyinski, Tavares, Barreto, Vieira, Saponara, Caprari, Sau
Manager: Giampaolo
Who played for Lazio
Strakosha, Wallace, Acerbi, Bastos, Romulo (68' Marusic), Parolo, Leiva, Cataldi (77' Badelj), Lulic, Correa, Caicedo (63' Immobile)
Manager: S. Inzaghi
Referee: Maresca
Goals: 3’ Caicedo, 20’ Caicedo, 57’ Quagliarella
What happened next
Lazio effectively gave up any hope of Champions League after the home defeat against Atalanta with three matches still to go.
But there was glory.
Lazio won the Coppa Italia against Atalanta with goals from Milinkovic-Savic and Correa in the second half. Hence, Lazio qualified for the 2019-20 Europa League and the Supercoppa.
Francesco Acerbi was the player with most appearances (50 in all competitions), Ciro Immobile the top scorer (19).
Let’s talk about Mauro Zitelli
Mauro Zitelli was born in Rome on April 12, 2000.
He started his career as a midfielder with the youth teams of Fiorentina but in 2016 he signed for Lazio and began with the Under 17s.
In the following season he began playing for the Primavera team and was even called up for Italy’s Under 18 National Squad. But while training with them he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his knee, compromising the rest of the season.
A regular in the 2018-19 Primavera team, he made six appearances on the bench in Serie A and Coppa Italia but never debuted.
In July 2019 he signed for Rieti in Serie C. He made just two appearances and since then has played for a number of Serie D minor clubs.
He currently plays for San Basilio.
Sources
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