Fantastic comeback

Dag Jenkins
Apr 11, 2024
4 min read

Season 2009-10

Game 33, Serie A

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna

Bologna-Lazio 2-3

Lazio fight back from two goals down to clinch three possibly decisive survival points

Lazio started the league with the enthusiasm of having won the Super Coppa but realistically did not expect any more miracles from the season.

No miracles but neither for things to be going as badly as they were. Lazio had started well winning the first two games of the season but then things went downhill. Their next win came in the 16th fixture, a 1-0 home win against Genoa. Three more defeats followed, a win and two draws. After the last defeat against Catania, 0-1 at home on February 7, Davide Ballardini was sacked and replaced by Edy Reja.

Things were looking grim. Lazio were 17th on 22 points and in the last relegation slot.

Reja had won 2-0 at Parma (up to 15th) on his debut but then drew 1 and lost 3 (back to 17th). Things then improved with 2 wins and 2 recent draws (Milan 1-1 at home and Napoli 1-1 at home) but Lazio were still 17th on 34 points, three above Atalanta in 18th and last relegation slot.

Bologna were currently 15th with Udinese, so only one point above Lazio. Since Franco Colomba had taken over they had won 8, drawn 5 (including Lazio 0-0) and lost 11 (including last four).

A crucial game today in Bologna also because Atalanta played Roma away and could likely drop points as the Giallorossi were fighting for the Scudetto.

The match

A very windy day with periods of sun attracted just over 20,000 to the Dall'Ara. A solid 4,000 had travelled up from Rome.

Lazio were without defenders Stephan Lichtsteiner and Sebastiano Siviglia plus midfielder Francelino Matuzalém. In attack Edy Reja, with the derby looming, chose not to risk Tommaso Rocchi as he was one booking away from a suspension so Sergio Floccari was playing instead.

Bologna were missing defenders Miguel Britos and Nicola Mingazzini plus forward Marcelo Zalayeta.

Bologna dominated the first half hour. Lazio looked sluggish and confused and Giuseppe Biava was out of his depth in an uncustomary midfield position.

The first goal came in the 12th minute. Biava sliced a clearance to Francesco Modesto, the Calabrese midfielder squared to Roberto Guana who had a penalty in movement and put it in the top hand corner, 1-0.

Four minutes passed and the Rossoblu scored again. In the 16th minute, Lazio fan, Daniele Portanova rose up from a corner and headed home, 2-0. All too easy for the home side.

Lazio were all over the place and the Felsinei twice went close to a third, first with a long distance Marco Di Vaio strike and then with a Rafael Santos header.

There was little response from Lazio and after 38 minutes Reja had seen enough. He took off Biava and threw on Rocchi, so changed from 3-4-2-1 to 4-3-3.

A change came immediately as Mauro Zarate hit a post and a few minutes later Lazio halved the deficit. In the 44th minute. Aleksandar Kolarov did well on the left and squared to Stefano Mauri who hit a shot past Emiliano Viviano into the top corner, 2-1. At the break Lazio were suddenly back in the game.

For the statistics lovers, Mauri's goal was Lazio's number 3,000 in Serie A.

In the second half it was now Bologna who were on the ropes. Zarate caused havoc and Viviano was forced to make two excellent saves.

Lazio now were dominant and they equalised in the 63rd minute. Cristian Ledesma floated in a free kick which André Dias headed onto the crossbar, defender Andrea Raggi attempted a clearance but it came off Dias' stomach and ended up in the net, 2-2. An unconventional goal but deserved.

Lazio were now unstoppable and in the 68th minute went in front. From a cross from the right Cristian Brocchi in the area produced a back heel which surprised the defence but not Rocchi who pounced and sent Viviano the wrong way, 2-3. A formidable comeback.

Bologna were groggy but tried to regroup with some substitutions; in the 71st minute Federico Casarini for Guana an in the 74th Henry Giménez for Modesto. Lazio changed forwards in the 78h minute bringing on Julio Cruz for Floccari.

In the 82nd minute the home side even took off top scorer Lazio fan, Marco Di Vaio and put on Davide Succi.

Bologna were down in the dumps and it was Lazio who went closer to a fourth with Fabio Firmani and Zarate. The Italian, and another Biancoceleste fan, had replaced Rocchi in the 88th minute.

Bologna were done and after four minutes of added time Rosetti blew for full-time: Bologna 2 Lazio 3.

A fantastic turnaround of events for the Biancocelesti. A comeback to remember but of vital importance to the present. Lazio were now 16th on 37 points and more importantly six points above Atalanta who had lost 1-2 in Rome. With five games to go Lazio were not safe but had taken a huge step towards their objective.

Bologna were now 17th and had been leapfrogged by Lazio. The Rossoblu still had a four-point cushion on the Bergamaschi but had to be careful.

The only bad news and no minor matter was that with five games to go Roma had gone top of the table as Inter had been held 2-2 in Florence.

Who played for Bologna

Viviano, Raggi, Portanova, Santos, Lanna, Guana (71' Casarini), Mudingayi, Modesto (74' Gimenez), Adailton, Di Vaio (82' Succi)

Substitutes: Colombo, Zenoni, Bassoli, Mutarelli

Manager: Colomba

Who played for Lazio

Muslera, Dias, Stendardo, Radu, Biava (38' Rocchi, 88' Firmani), Brocchi, Ledesma, Kolarov, Mauri, Floccari (78' Cruz), Zarate