Carpi miss, Lazio win

Simon Basten
May 8, 2024
3 min read

Season 2015-16

Game 37, Serie A

Stadio Alberto Braglia, Modena

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Carpi Lazio 1-3

Two penalty misses for Carpi, three goals for Lazio

One could see immediately that Lazio were having problems and they were not playing as well as 2014-15. Narrow wins and heavy defeats (4-0 against Chievo, 5-0 against Napoli), players who were not performing as well as the previous year (Felipe Anderson for example) or other fundamental pieces that Lazio lost through injury (Stefan de Vrij) all led to a disappointing season so far. At the end of the first half of the season Lazio were 9th. They had lost the derby, at home to Milan and away to Juventus. The only positive result was a win away against Inter. Champions League qualification was twelve points away and Europa League four.

The beginning of the second half of the season followed in the footsteps of the first. The inconsistency and bad form of some of the players came to a culmination with the 4-1 loss in the derby two weeks later. Lazio actually did not play too badly and were unlucky, hitting the woodwork twice when they were 2-1 down.

President Claudio Lotito decided that it was time for a change and sacked Stefano Pioli. Simone Inzaghi, former player of the 2000 scudetto, had already been helped considerably by Lazio in his career as a manager. The club really believed in his abilities and had given him various youth teams in order to gain experience. The time was ripe for the big jump and he took over.

A European football qualification for next season was practically impossible but at least they tried and there was an improvement.

Today’s game was practically useful only to assess the future of some of the players.

The match

Carpi started well and in the 7th minute after a Wesley Hoedt mistake, Jerry Mbakogu passed to Issac Cofie outside of the box, Federico Marchetti parried.

After a probable handball ignored by the ref on an Antonio Candreva shot, in the 12th minute Mbakogu slipped in front of Hoedt and a ridiculous penalty was given to Carpi. The forward took the spot kick but Marchetti saved.

In the 18th minute Senad Lulic hit the crossbar and five minutes later Lazio scored. On a corner taken by Lucas Biglia, Mauricio tried a header which was blocked, Marco Parolo shot towards the goal but Raffaele Bianco saved on the line, ball back to Parolo who tried a volley but again Bianco saved, at this point in came Milan Bisevac and it was 1-0 for the Biancocelesti.

In the 32nd minute Lazio went two up. Miro Klose to Felipe Anderson on the right, low cross and Candreva had the simplest of chances and did not miss.

In the 40th minute another penalty for the home side. Mauricio touched the ball with his hand while embracing Mbakogu and Rocchi indicated the spot kick. The Nigerian forward went again to take the penalty but practically passed the ball to Marchetti.

In the beginning of the second half wonderful shot from Kevin Lasagna but the ball hit the crossbar. Lazio made it three in the 72nd minute. Eddy Onazi crossed from the left, Filip Djordjevic dummied and Klose scored.

In the 84th minute Biglia was sent off and Carpi doubled the efforts to reduce the deficit. Simone Verdi took a free kick from the right, the ball hit the crossbar and fell perfectly for Mbakogu who this time made no mistake.

In the final minutes Djordjevic was also sent off. Despite the nine men, Lazio brought back the three points.

Who played for Carpi

Belec; Letizia, Poli, Romagnoli, Gagliolo; Pasciuti (76' Verdi), Cofie (46' Lasagna), Bianco (66' Crimi), Di Gaudio; Lollo; Mbakogu

Substitutes: Colombi, Zaccardo, Sabelli, Suagher, Porcari, Martinho, Daprelà, De Guzman, Mancosu

Manager: Castori

Who played for Lazio

Marchetti; Basta, Bisevac, Hoedt (15' Mauricio), Konko; Parolo, Biglia, Lulic; Candreva (68' Djordjevic), Klose, Felipe Anderson (50' Onazi)