A bitter return for Inzaghi

Simon Basten

Oct 15, 2023

3 min read

Season 2021-22

Game 8, Serie A

Saturday, October 16, 2021

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Inter 3-1

Lazio came from behind to beat Inter 3-1 in a dramatic encounter at the Olimpico, with Felipe Anderson’s controversial late goal turning the game on its head and Milinković-Savić sealing a memorable victory over Simone Inzaghi on his return to Rome.

After seven games Lazio were sixth with Juve Atalanta and Bologna. They had won the first two games against Empoli and Spezia, then lost in Milan and drawn with Cagliari at home and Torino away. They had then won the derby 3-2.

Today was the first time Simone Inzaghi returned to the Olimpico as an enemy.

The match: Saturday, October 16, 2021, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

After ten minutes, Felipe Anderson raced down the right wing and, almost on the byline, delivered a splendid ball to Pedro. The Spaniard immediately tried his luck, but Milan Škriniar blocked the shot. The ball fell to Lucas Leiva, who unleashed a powerful effort that flew over the crossbar.

Two minutes later, Nicolò Barella got ahead of Elseid Hysaj inside the box. The Albanian made the slightest contact from behind, and Barella went down as if he had been hit by a missile. A penalty was awarded, of course, and Ivan Perišić made no mistake from the spot.

The Biancocelesti reacted. In the 24th minute, Felipe Anderson again broke down the right and delivered another splendid cross, this time for Toma Bašić. Samir Handanović parried the midfielder's effort, and Škriniar scrambled the ball behind for a corner.

Pepe Reina was called into action in the 34th minute when Perišić tried his luck from outside the box. The Lazio goalkeeper produced a fine save.

In the 64th minute, Lazio equalised. From a corner, Patric headed towards goal, but Alessandro Bastoni stopped the ball with his hand. Another penalty, and Ciro Immobile made no mistake. It was 1-1.

In the 81st minute, controversy erupted. Federico Dimarco passed the ball to Lautaro Martínez and then went down following a collision with Lucas Leiva. Lautaro continued towards the box and, just outside it, tried a shot that Reina comfortably gathered.

The Lazio goalkeeper immediately released the ball to Sergej Milinković-Savić, who passed to Felipe Anderson on the right. The Brazilian surged forward before switching the play to Immobile on the opposite side. King Ciro entered the box and shot, Handanović parried, but Felipetto was perfectly placed to tap home the rebound and make it 2-1.

The Inter players were furious. They wanted Lazio to put the ball out of play because Dimarco was still down injured. But Inter had continued playing after the incident, with Lautaro even taking a shot at goal, so the Biancocelesti played on as well.

Denzel Dumfries confronted Felipe Anderson, and a furious exchange of pushing and shoving followed. Several players were booked, including Felipetto, although the Brazilian was clearly the main target of the Nerazzurri's anger.

In stoppage time, Lazio put the result beyond doubt. Luis Alberto took a free kick, and Milinković-Savić rose higher than Škriniar to head the ball into the net for 3-1.

A great win for Lazio, and not such a great return to the Olimpico for Simone Inzaghi.

Who played for Lazio

Reina, Marusic, Luiz Felipe, Patric, Hysaj (66' Lazzari), Milinkovic-Savic, Leiva (85' Cataldi), Basic (66' Luis Alberto), Felipe Anderson (85' Akpa Akpro), Immobile, Pedro (75' Zaccagni)

Substitutes: Strakosha, Adamonis, Radu, Vavro, Escalante, Moro, Muriqi

Manager: Sarri

Who played for Inter

Handanovic, Skriniar, de Vrij, Bastoni (67' Dumfries), Darmian, Barella (85' Calhanoglu), Brozovic, Gagliardini (67' Vecino), Dimarco, Perisic (67' Correa), Dzeko (75' Lautaro Martinez)