Lazio clinch 4th place with second half comeback

Dag Jenkins
May 13, 2024
5 min read

Season 2011-12

Game 38, Serie A

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio - Inter 3-1

Inter well on top in first half but Lazio play brilliant second to clinch satisfying win

This season did not start particularly well with 2 points in the first 3 games but then it improved. Lazio had fought for a Champions League qualification but ultimately fell short with a 0-2 defeat at Udine at the end of April. Lazio were currently 4th on 59 points. They had won 17 (including both derbies 2-1 and Milan 2-0 at home), drawn 8 and lost 12. The highlights had obviously been beating Roma twice. There had also been some unexpected and heavy defeats (Siena 4-0, Palermo 5-1) and some other bad slip ups (Catania 0-1, Novara 1-2 away, Bologna 1-3 at home) which had compromised Lazio's Champions chances.

There was still an extremely slender chance as Udinese were 3rd on 61 only two points above but their opponents today were Catania who were in mid-table and had nothing to play for (the Bianconeri also only needed a point).

Inter were currently joint 5th with Napoli in Serie A. The Nerazzurri had 58 points after 17 wins (including both derbies 1-0 and 4-2, Lazio 2-1), 7 draws (including Palermo 4-4 at home) and 13 defeats (including Roma 0-4 away and Novara 0-1 at home). They were already guaranteed the Europa League in some form as 7th placed Roma were on 53.

Unless Udinese messed up, today's game counted for the final positions between 4th and 6th and to finish the season well. The 6th place meant a Europa League playoff while 4th and 5th sent you directly in. Lazio could definitely clinch 4th place but Inter with a win could leapfrog the Biancocelesti. The final positions also depended on joint 5th placed Napoli who played Siena at home.

The match: Sunday, May 13, 2012, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Ticket owned by Dag Jenkins, photo by Dag Jenkins

A good crowd of 50,000 turned up to bid farewell to another season and maybe hope for miraculous news from Catania.

Lazio were without keeper Federico Marchetti, defender Stefan Radu, midfielders Hernanes, Cristian Brocchi and Francelino Matuzalém plus forwards Miro Klose and Tommaso Rocchi.

Inter were missing keeper Julio César, midfielders Dejan Stankovic, Joel Obi and Wesley Sneijder plus forward Mauro Zarate.

In the first half Inter had more territorial control and possession while Lazio looked as if they could be dangerous on the break.

The first dangerous shot at goal was an excellent left-footed long range effort by Fredy Guarin but Albano Bizzarri tipped it over the bar.

Guarin threatened again when after a one-two with Diego Milito the Colombian burst into the area but his shot was low and central and Bizzarri blocked.

Then it was Milito's turn to scare Lazio but his header from a Maicon cross shaved the right post. The Argentine forward then fired his next chance over the bar from the edge of the box.

Lazio occasionally had space to do some damage but lacked precision in the last passes.

Just before half time Inter were awarded a penalty. In the 45th minute Cristian Ledesma made a lunging tackle and caught Maicon on the chalk line of the box and the Brazilian fell inside. The referee indicated a spotkick, probably the right decision. Milito took it and did not miss, 0-1.

Lazio almost gave away another goal early straight away when a sloppy back pass by Giuseppe Biava put Milito in front of goal but Bizzarri raced off his line and prevented the former Genoa player from going round him.

Halftime: Lazio 0 Inter 1. A deserved lead so far for the visitors who had been more positive and dangerous.

There were no changes for the second half. What changed was Lazio's approach, now much better. Antonio Candreva tried his luck with a venomous strike from the distance which bounced in front of goal but Luca Castellazzi parried away into corner.

In the 59th minute Lazio equalised. From a Stefano Mauri corner from the left, Libor Kozak rose up in a crowded area and headed in, 1-1.

In the 61st minute came the first substitution, striker Giampaolo Pazzini for Ricardo Ávarez.

Two minutes later Lazio were in front. Senad Lulic went on one of his formidable runs down the left and pulled the ball back to the edge of the box where Candreva controlled it, pushed it forward slightly and blasted a low shot past Castellazzi, 2-1. An incredible turnaround in the space of four minutes.

Inter reacted with a Lucio shot over the bar and an almost own goal by Lazio when a low cross by Maicon was deflected onto the post by Biava to anticipate Pazzini.

In the 76th minute Inter took off midfielder Andrea Poli and put on forward Samuele Longo.

Both sides were tired now and the game could have gone either way

In the 82nd minute Lazio put on a more defensive midfielder Álvaro González for an exhausted Lulic.

Lazio then absorbed Inter's pressure well and in the 91st minute put the game out of the Nerazzurri's reach. Mauri hooked a clever ball to Candreva who set up Kozak in front of Castellazzi, though to the left, the Czech forward tried to go round him but the keeper stood his ground so he tried to lob him and the keeper slapped the ball away but into Mauri's path who hammered it low into the back of the net, 3-1.

The game was over there was only time for one more substitution each: Javier Garrido for Mauri and Juan Jesus for Milito. Final score: Lazio 3 Inter 1.

An entertaining game. Inter were superior in the first half but in the second Lazio had changed gear and with their pace had blown Inter away.

Unfortunately Udinese had won 2-0 in Catania so there were no Champions League celebrations. The win however meant Lazio finished 4th and would go straight into the Europa League group stage.

Inter on the other hand ended up 6th as Napoli had beaten Siena 2-1. This meant the Nerazzurri would have to start the Europa League from the playoffs in early August, not the ideal way to prepare for the season.

Who played for Lazio

Bizzarri, Scaloni, Diakité, Biava, Konko, Cana, Ledesma, Candreva, Mauri (92' Garrido), Lulic (82' A.Gonzalez), Kozak