Could have been easier

Simon Basten
Dec 18, 2023
2 min read

Season 2016-17

Game 17, Serie A

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Fiorentina 3-1

Lazio managed to hold off the Fiorentina comeback and take the three points

Lazio were doing well. They were currently fourth together with Napoli and just one point off third place held by Milan.

The match

A very strong rhythm for this game right from the start. In the 9th minute Danilo Cataldi took a corner, Bastos jumped higher than anyone and headed towards the goal, Ciprian Tatarusanu parried. In the 22nd minute Cataldi sent the ball in the box, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic headed towards the centre, it was picked up by Ciro Immobile who shot too high. Sixty seconds later Lazio scored. Felipe Anderson on the right wing to Milinkovic-Savic who passed to Keita Balde. The Senegalese controlled the ball and with a clinical shot made it 1-0.

Fiorentina had a chance in the 41st minute with Federico Bernardeschi but his header from a favourable position was too weak and central. In the 3rd minute of injury time Milinkovic-Savic went off on the left and in front of the keeper was fouled. Penalty which Lucas Biglia thundered into the net.

In the 48th minute the Viola had a chance to reduce the deficit. Sebastian Cristoforo, who had just come in taking the place of Nenad Tomovic, was fouled by Biglia just inside the box. Josip Ilicic took the spot kick but Superman Federico Marchetti dived and saved. This did not stop the Viola who increased the pressure on the Biancocelesti who started to falter. In the 65th minute Cristian Tello went off on the left and in the box tried to beat Marchetti, Biglia saved on the line, but in came Mauro Zarate who tapped the ball in.

Riccardo Kishna and Wallace come in for Keita and Felipe Anderson to allow a more defensive approach. In the 71st minute Bernardeschi tried a shot from out the box but central, Marchetti parried into corner. In the 90th minute, Bastos, in defence, to Immobile who left the party on the counter attack, went into the Fiorentina half and close to the box passed to Stefan Radu. Big whack, 3-1 for Lazio and game over.

Who played for Lazio

Marchetti, Bastos, de Vrij, Radu, Felipe Anderson (77’ Wallace), Milinkovic-Savic, Biglia, Cataldi (84’ Murgia), Lulic, Immobile, Keita (68’ Kishna)