Caicedo zone strikes again with late penalty
Lazio conquer eighth consecutive home win despite superb but short lived Spezia equaliser
Also on this day: April 3, 2010, Lazio Napoli 1-1. Lazio and Napoli settle for a point each towards their objectives. Player of the day: Julio Cruz
The season so far
The world and football were still very much affected by the Covid-19. Matches were being played in empty stadiums but as they say, the show must go on.
Lazio had confirmed Simone Inzaghi as manager after the previous year's Champions League qualification. This season, Lazio were not the almost perfect machine they had been up until lockdown, but they were now showing signs of improvement.
The first match of the season they were defeated by Atalanta. They had then improved and won 14, drawn 8 and lost 8 so were on 50 points. They had destroyed city rivals Roma 3-0, beaten Napoli 2-0 but lost against Inter, Juventus and Milan. They came into this match in 7th position, after a 1-0 away win at Udinese, just off the Champions League positions.
Lazio had made some changes to the squad in the summer but the majority of the new players were proving to be disappointing. The new arrivals were veteran goalkeeper Pepe Reina (Milan), defenders Wesley Hoedt (Southampton-back on loan), Mohamed Fares (Spal), midfielders Jean Daniel Akpa Akpro (Salernitana), Andreas Pereira (Manchester United - loan), Gonzalo Escalante (free agent -Eibar) plus striker Vedat Muriqi (Fenerbahçe). In January Lazio added defender Matteo Mustachio (Milan) to their books.
These new players were to various degrees underperforming and not adding quality and the depth of choice Inzaghi had hoped for. On a more positive note Ciro Immobile was still firing away and already had 14 league goals.
Leaving Lazio had been goalkeeper Guido Guerrieri (Salernitana), defenders Jordan Lukaku (Antwerp), Wallace (Yeni Malatyaspor), Bastos (Al-Ain), midfielders André Anderson (Salernitana-loan), Milan Badelj (Genoa), Jony (Osasuna- loan with option to buy) and striker Bobby Adekanye (Cadiz-loan). In January there had been further departures: defenders Durmisi (Salernitana-loan), Denis Vavro (Huesca-loan) and goalkeeper Silvio Proto had retired.
In the Champions League they got through the group stage unbeaten with 2 wins (Borussia Dortmund and Zenit St. Petersburg both 3-1) and 4 draws (Zenit, Borussia D and twice with Brugge). The bad news was that they had then drawn Bayern Munich in the next round and been well beaten (1-4, 1-2).
In the Coppa Italia Lazio were knocked out 3-2 by Atalanta in the quarter finals in January.
Today's opposition Spezia were in their first historic season in Serie A. Under Vincenzo Italiano the previous season the "Aquilotti" (The Eagles) had arrived third in Serie B. This year the manager had been confirmed. Spezia had won on their debut, 2-0 at Udinese and so far had won 7, drawn 8 and lost 13 (including Lazio 1-2). The "Spezzini" were in 14th position and a week earlier had beaten Cagliari 2-1. In the Coppa Italia they had knocked out Roma away 4-2 (changed to 3-0 as Roma made an extra substitution). Spezia then lost in the quarter finals 4-2 against Napoli.
Lazio were favourites today but Spezia were holding their own in Serie A and playing good football.
The match: Saturday, April 3, 2021, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The stadium was empty as usual due to Covid 19 restrictions and there was also a minute's silence for Lazio youth player Daniele Guerini, who had died tragically in a car crash.
Lazio were initially without Luis Alberto, on the bench due to a slight injury, but Stefan Radu was present, becoming Lazio’s record man for appearances, 402.
The first half was reasonably balanced. Lazio attacked more but Spezia were well organized, their full-backs played high up field and the whole team used an incessant pressing.
Lazio's biggest chance fell to Joaquin Correa but after an assist by Ciro Immobile his penalty in motion went over the bar. Spezia had a central Emmanuel Gyasi shot saved by Reina and above all Giulio Maggiore had a close range free header but somehow managed to miss and send it high. Half time Lazio 0 Spezia 0.
Lazio started the second half a bit brighter. In the 52nd minute Luis Alberto replaced Pereira and added some creativity. Correa wasted a huge chance when, with only the keeper to beat, he pushed the ball slightly too far forward and had his shot saved. In the 56th minute, however, Lazio took the lead. Lucas Leiva won the ball in midfield and then Sergej Milinkovic-Savic put Manuel Lazzari through on goal, he pushed the ball forward and beat the keeper with a low chip. Lazio 1 Spezia 0.
Lazio seemed in control but a moment of brilliance changed the score. In the 73rd minute Gyasi won a fifty-fifty ball on the left wing (possibly irregularly) and put in a cross. The ball reached Daniele Verde just inside the area and he coordinated himself perfectly and put an amazing left-footed bicycle kick in the top right hand corner. A goal of rare beauty by the former Roma youth sector player, who had only been on the field three minutes. If a similar goal had been scored by a more well-known player it would have been all over the evening news. Lazio 1 Spezia 1.
The last fifteen minutes saw Lazio press Spezia back but the Liguri seemed to be absorbing Lazio’s attacks well until the 89th minute. On a Lazio corner, Marchizza handballed. He had lost his balance and was not even looking at the ball but his arm was a little wide. After a VAR check the spot kick was awarded. Maybe slightly harsh and a penalty you definitely would not like to be blown against you. As it was, and as you do, Lazio accepted it and Felipe Caicedo slotted it in, confirming himself as a late goal maestro. Lazio 2 Spezia 1. Game over? Far from it.
The referee gave seven minutes of additional time and in the 96th minute a brawl broke out after a dirty foul by Kevin Agudelo on Lazzari. When things calmed down they were both booked, the Spezia player for the foul and Lazzari for his reaction. Unfortunately the Lazio defender was already on a yellow, so he was off. A minute later Correa was also sent off for a second yellow so Lazio had to defend the last seconds with 9 men. There was luckily only time for a couple of long balls from the visitors and Lazio brought home a precious, hard fought win. Lazio 2 Spezia 1.
Lazio had not been at their best. Milinkovic-Savic and Immobile seemed tired after international duties and the three points had been won thanks to a lucky incident rather than a convincing performance. Lazio however took the points and were now only 4 points off the Champions League slot.
Spezia had played well and shown they had the means to avoid relegation. They certainly scored one of the best goals in their history today.
Who played for Lazio
Reina, Marusic, Acerbi, Radu, Lazzari, Milinkovic-Savic (72' Akpa Akpro), Leiva (77' Cataldi), Pereira (52' Luis Alberto), Lulic (52' Fares), Correa, Immobile (72' Caicedo)
Manager: S. Inzaghi
Who played for Spezia
Zoet, Ferrer, Erlic, Chabot, Bastoni (65' Marchizza), Leo Sena (70' Agudelo), Ricci, Maggiore (65' Agoume), Gyasi, Piccoli (70' Nzola), Farias (70' Verde)
Substitutes: Provedel, Ismajli, Capradossi, Terzi, Vignali, Pobega, Galabinov
Manager: Italiano
Referee: Giua
Goals: 56' Lazzari, 73' Verde, 89' Caicedo (pen)
What happened next
Lazio finished 6th in Serie A. A week later they won 1-0 at Verona but, despite some good wins (including Milan 3-0), they lost the decisive games against Napoli (5-2) and Roma (2-0) plus defeats at Fiorentina (2-0) and Sassuolo (2-0). They qualified for the Europa League with 21 wins, 5 draws and 12 defeats. Top scorer was Immobile with 25 (20 in the league).
Spezia managed to stay up in Serie A. The following week they beat relegation rivals Crotone 3-2 and ended up 15th, after 9 wins, 12 draws and 17 defeats. They finished with a six-point cushion on third bottom Benevento. The other two going down were Crotone and Parma.
The Scudetto was won by Inter for their 19th title.
Lazio 2020-21
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 38 | 21 | 5 | 12 | 61 |
Coppa Italia | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 4 |
Champions League | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 13 |
Total | 48 | 24 | 9 | 15 | 78 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League |
Marusic | 46 | 36 | 2 | 8 |
Acerbi | 42 | 32 | 2 | 8 |
Akpa-Akbro | 42 | 32 | 2 | 8 |
Immobile | 41 | 35 | 1 | 5 |
Milinkovic-Savic | 41 | 32 | 2 | 7 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League |
Immobile | 25 | 20 | - | 5 |
Correa | 11 | 8 | - | 3 |
Luis Alberto | 9 | 9 | - | - |
Caicedo | 9 | 8 | - | 1 |
Milinkovic-Savic | 8 | 8 | - | - |
Let's talk about Andreas Pereira
Andreas Hugo Hoelgebaum Pereira was born in Duffel, Belgium, on January 1, 1996. His Brazilian father was playing there at the time while his mother is Belgian, of German descent.
Pereira started his football in Belgium at KVSK United. In 2005 he moved to PSV youth sector in Holland for six years and then from 2011-2016 he was at Manchester United.
On August 26 he made his debut for the "Red Devils" in a league cup game at Milton Keynes. His Premier League debut came on March 15 2015 against Tottenham. At the end of the season he was voted best Man. Utd Under-21 player of the year. The following season he made his debut in the Champions League against Wolfsburg. In 2016 he won the FA Cup with the Old Trafford club. After 11 games for Manchester United he was sent out on loan.
In 2016 he spent a year at Granada in the Liga, playing 37 total games with 5 goals. The following year he stayed in Spain on loan with Valencia playing 29 games with 1 goal.
In 2018 he was back in Manchester. Over the next two seasons he made another 62 appearances (40 in Premiership) with 3 goals. All in all he did not fulfil expectations and was considered a little disappointing.
In October 2020 he joined Lazio on loan but with a clause to buy of 27 million Euros. Under manager Simone Inzaghi he played 23 games in Serie A (1 goal versus Torino), 2 in Coppa Italia and 5 in the Champions League. He got playing time in Rome but was never really a regular starter. He showed flashes of class and ability but never convinced totally and was not thought worth the cost of signing him on definitely.
In 2021 he moved to Brazil on loan and joined Flamengo. He played 52 games and scored 8 goals. The "Rubro-Negro" reached the final of the Copa Libertadores but a Pereira mistake gave the victory to rivals Palmeiras.
In July 2022 Pereira was finally sold by Manchester United and was signed by Fulham in the Premier League for 9,5 million Euros. He has had a good start to the season as have the "Cottagers". Before the Qatar World Cup break he had played 15 league games with 2 goals (West-Ham, Manchester City).
At international level he first represented Belgium until Under-17's level but he then switched to Brazil. He took part in the U20's World Cup and scored in a 2-1 defeat to Serbia. On September 12, 2018 he made his debut for the "Seleção" in a 5-0 friendly win against El Salvador. He thus became the first player not born in Brazil to play for the "Verde-Oro" for 100 years.
Pereira is a talented midfielder. At Lazio there were moments where he looked as if he could establish himself but lacked the consistency to do so. It was not always clear what his best position was and that was penalising. He is obviously a good player, has skill, a good cross and shooting abilities. So far however he has not been as good as obviously Man. Utd and others had hoped. With some luck he can finally find his place in top football, with Marco Silva and Fulham in West London, that his ability deserves.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League |
2020-21 | 30 (1) | 23 (1) | 2 | 5 |
Sources
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