Foggia Strikes Late to Seal Lazio Victory

Simon Basten
Nov 2, 2022
3 min read

Season 2008-09

Game 10, Serie A

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Catania 1-0

Lazio press throughout before substitute Foggia finally breaks down Zenga’s Catania.

Lazio started the season beating Benevento in Coppa Italia 5-1. They then beat Atalanta 1-0 and qualified for the Round of 16.

In Serie A they were currently sixth, just four points behind leaders Napoli and Udinese.

The match

Lazio coach Delio Rossi stuck with his usual 4-3-3 formation: Juan Pablo Carrizo in goal, a back four of Stefan Lichtsteiner, Sebastiano Siviglia, David Rozehnal and Stefan Radu; Cristian Brocchi, Cristian Ledesma and Stefano Mauri in midfield; and an attacking trio of Goran Pandev, Tommaso Rocchi and Mauro Zarate. Walter Zenga’s Catania responded with Albano Bizzarri between the posts, Rocco Sabato, Gennaro Sardo, Lorenzo Stovini and Matias Silvestre in defence, Pablo Ledesma, Ezequiel Carboni and Marco Biagianti across midfield, and Giuseppe Mascara playing just behind Mariano Izco and Gianvito Plasmati.

Lazio started strongly, with Pandev forcing Bizzarri into a sharp save after only two minutes. Zarate tried his luck from distance in the 10th minute, but again the Catania keeper was untroubled. The home side pressed high and looked more dangerous going forward, while the visitors sat deep and relied on counterattacks that lacked cutting edge. In the 22nd minute Mauri was denied by desperate defending after a corner.

Mascara went close with a dipping effort three minutes later, though it sailed wide, and just before the break Rocchi had the ball in the net only for the flag to go up. Mauri also went close with a sliding finish that lacked power. The sides went into halftime on level terms after a fairly balanced first period.

After the restart, Rossi was forced to withdraw Rocchi, still short of full fitness, and introduced Mourad Meghni. Zarate squandered a golden opportunity in the 56th minute, heading wide from point-blank range. The game settled into a cagey rhythm, with both defences well organized. On 67 minutes, Mauri’s free-kick created space for Zarate, but the striker failed to control the ball.

Zenga looked to inject more pace by bringing on Japanese forward Takayuki Morimoto for Plasmati, while Rossi turned to Pasquale Foggia in place of a tiring Brocchi. Ledesma tried his luck from long range in the 75th minute, but his shot rolled harmlessly wide. Then, with nine minutes to go, Zarate burst down the right and teed up Pandev, who shot straight at Bizzarri from close range.

Finally, in the 85th minute, Lazio found the breakthrough. Zarate slipped a clever pass through to Foggia, who took a touch inside the box and coolly slotted past Bizzarri. Moments later, Foggia returned the favour, setting up Zarate, but the Argentine’s shot was well saved.

The goal proved decisive as Lazio claimed a valuable 1–0 victory, their sixth win of the campaign, while Catania suffered their third defeat of the season.

Who played for Lazio

Carrizo, Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Rozehnal, Radu, Brocchi (70’ Foggia), Ledesma, Mauri, Zarate, Pandev (83’ S.Inzaghi), Rocchi (46’ Meghni)