Game 12, Serie A
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Lecce 4-2
An extremely complicated game sees Lazio win with goals from Correa, Immobile and Milinkovic-Savic
In the 2019-20 season there were high hopes. The previous year had seen a not so good season from Luis Alberto, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Ciro Immobile due to a number of injuries and it was hoped that if the three managed to play better, an improvement would be guaranteed.
But it had been a slow start. Until October Lazio had shown potential but also thrown away points here and there.
At the end of the first half in the match at home against Atalanta, Lazio were losing 3-0. The season was practically a write off, and it was only October. But then something triggered in the players’ head. Lazio managed to draw the game and start a winning streak. They had beaten Fiorentina away, Torino and Milan at San Siro for the first time since 1989. They were fifth in the company of Cagliari but were working their way up.
The match
After three minutes Luis Alberto had a chance. He dribbled past a number of players and on the limit of the penalty area tried a shot that was parried by Gabriel. One minute later Babacar from the left entered the Lazio box, went towards the centre and shot, Thomas Strakosha parried.
A great game with the ball moving backwards and forwards. The Biancocelesti had further opportunities with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Luis Alberto and Ciro Immobile but Lecce too could have scored with Babacar and Marco Mancosu, who in the 16th minute on an assist from Gianluca Lapadula, was unmarked in the box but his shot went over the crossbar. After a header from Senad Lulic a little too high in the 25th minute, on the half hour Lazio scored. Luís Alberto passed the ball to Joaquin Correa just inside the box. The Argentinian was quick to shoot and managed to beat Gabriel for the Biancocelesti’s first goal of the day.
Manuel Lazzari could have made it two in the 36th minute after Lulic sent a cross in the box from the left, Gabriel anticipated Milinkovic-Savic, the ball got to the Lazio right back but his shot went over the crossbar.
Instead of 2-0, it became 1-1. Corner for Lecce in the 40th minute, Marco Calderoni crossed, Luca Rossettini anticipated Luiz Felipe and headed the ball towards the far post, in came Lapadula who equalised.
Lecce were playing well and Lazio were in a spot of bother but should have scored in the 43rd minute. Lazzari sent a long ball into the Lecce penalty area from the right, Lulic managed to head it towards Correa, the ball was cleared but it became a splendid assist for Luis Alberto who instead whacked it over the crossbar.
In the 51st minute there was a cross from the left, splendid header by Babacar, Strakosha managed to save with the help of the crossbar.
In the 56th minute Francesco Acerbi crossed from the left, Milinkovic-Savic tried a header which shaved the post. The duo tried again six minutes later. This time Acerbi sent a lower cross into the box, the Sergeant anticipated the Lecce defenders and volleyed the ball in the net.
Lecce surged forward for the equaliser and in the 65th minute were very generously awarded a penalty. Corner for Lecce, cross into the box, Babacar tried to control the ball but it rolled towards Milinkovic-Savic who anticipated Mancosu. The Lecce player collapsed to the ground and the ref indicated a penalty. Var confirmed despite the complete lack of any touch whatsoever. Babacar took the spotkick, Strakosha parried, but in came Lapadula who managed to tap the ball in. 2-2? No, the Giallorosso forward had entered the box before the penalty was taken and the goal was disallowed.
The Apulians lost a bit of momentum and the Biancocelesti took advantage. In the 74th minute on a counter attack Luis Alberto tried a shot which shaved the post and two minutes later penalty for Lazio. Milinkovic-Savic and Calderoni were fighting for the ball, the Lecce player handballed it and this time it was the Biancocelesti’s turn. Immobile made no mistake, Lazio 3 Lecce 1.
In the 80th minute Immobile on the counter attack on the limit of the area, a defender intervened but it became a pass for Correa who entered the box and beat Gabriel for his brace.
But Lecce were not dead and in the 85th minute Jacopo Petriccione crossed from the right, Andrea La Mantia anticipated Bastos and headed the ball past Strakosha. The Albanian goalkeeper was called to a great save in the 89th minute. After a big Pagnotis Tachtsidis whack Acerbi anticipated Lapadula’s tap in. La Mantia also hit the woodwork in the 95th minute with a header off a Calderoni cross.
Lazio managed to get the three points, but it was a very, very tough match.
Who played for Lazio
Strakosha, Patric (72’ Bastos), Luiz Felipe, Acerbi, Lazzari, Milinkovic-Savic, Leiva (51’ Cataldi), Luis Alberto, Lulic, Correa (86’ Berisha), Immobile
Manager: Inzaghi
Who played for Lecce
Gabriel, Meccariello (86' Rispoli), Rossettini, Lucioni, Calderoni, Petriccione, Tachtsidis, Majer (70' Shakhov), Mancosu, Lapadula, Babacar (72' La Mantia)
Substitutes: Vigorito, Bleve, Riccardi, Vera, Benzar, Gallo, Imbula, Dubickas, Lo Faso
Manager: Liverani
Referee: Manganiello
Goals: 30’ Correa, 40’ Lapadula, 62’ Milinkovic-Savic, 78’ Immobile (pen), 80’ Correa, 85’ La Mantia
Sources
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