Eagles eat up mullets
- Dag Jenkins
- Apr 15, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Game 34, Serie A
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio-Livorno 3-1
Lazio comfortably defeat lowly Livorno and spoil Mazzone's big day
In Serie A Lazio were doing surprisingly well. The Biancocelesti were in 6th position on 49 points and occupied a UEFA Cup slot (four above Palermo).
In Serie A Livorno were now in 9th place on 44 points. The "Triglie" (Mullets) had won 11 (including Lazio 2-1), drawn 11 and lost 11. They however came from 6 consecutive defeats (on February 26 they had been 6th and in last UEFA slot).
Lazio were expected to win today and against a Livorno side in a crisis of results. Lazio had their eyes on Europe.
The match
A warm and sunny day but the Saturday afternoon kick-off limited the crowd to just over 25,000.
Lazio had defender Sebastiano Siviglia and Paolo Di Canio unavailable while Livorno were without defender Francesco Coco.
Livorno's intentions were clear from the start as they fielded a very defensive 4-5-1 line-up.
The warm April weather meant the game was not played at a particularly fast pace. It only came alive in the 19th minute when Luciano Zauri was fouled clumsily by Marc Pfertzel for a clear penalty. Massimo Oddo then coolly slotted in a low spot kick to Marco Amelia's right. Lazio 1 Livorno 0.
In the 23rd minute Lazio could have doubled but, from a Valon Behrami cross from the right, Tommaso Rocchi missed his attempt at a scissor kick from a favourable position.
Lazio had no interest in increasing the tempo of the game and seeing Livorno's few and sterile initiatives the half carried on eventless until the break. The only excitement was the arrival of a few hundred away fans who had obviously been delayed for some reason or possibly intentionally held up by the police which sometimes unfairly happens in matches with strong fan rivalries. They had not missed much anyway.
In the second half the Amaranto side started with more determination and belief, perhaps motivated by the sight of their own fans or by some harsh words by Carlo Mazzone during the interval.
The fact is they were more threatening. First Cristiano Lucarelli had a low shot comfortably saved by Angelo Peruzzi, then they had an unlikely penalty appeal for an Emílson Cribari handball (his hands were aligned to his body and only shot out after the impact) and then the Tuscans equalised.
In the 52nd minute César Prates tried his luck from outside the box, his low shot was parried by Peruzzi and fell to Giuseppe Colucci who had an easy tap-in. Peruzzi not faultless and Lazio 1 Livorno 1.
At this point Lazio decided to step up a gear. They took back the lead only four minutes later. In the 56th minute Oddo crossed from the right and Goran Pandev twisted his head and put the ball in on the far post. A great header and a rare one by the Macedonian. Lazio 2 Livorno 1.
After the hour mark, the substitutions started; for Livorno forward Ibrahima Bakayoko for defender Stefano Argilli in the 61st minute and midfielder Gennaro Ruotolo for same role Diego De Ascentis and for Lazio Gaby Mudingayi for a subdued Fabio Liverani in the 62nd minute.
Lazio were now back in control and in the 71st minute made it three. On an almost fortuitous Mudingayi pass, Pandev in the centre of the box energetically freed himself of Jorge Vargas and poked the ball past Amelia. Lazio 3 Livorno 1.
Livorno then immediately replaced former Lazio defender Alessandro Grandoni with Stefano Fanucci while some minutes later, in the 78th minute, the Biancocelesti put on a more defensive Christian Manfredini for Stefano Mauri.
If the game was not already over it certainly was in the 82nd minute when Chilean Vargas received a second booking and his marching orders.
In the 87th minute Rossi gave match winner Pandev his deserved round of applause as he took him off for Igli Tare.
Livorno then ended up in nine men as Colucci limped off injured, but by that point the game had said what it had to say. Final score Lazio 3 Livorno 1.
An ultimately routine win for Lazio who stopped and started but when they decided to accelerate managed to win without excessive difficulties.
Lazio were still 6th, on 52 points but now with a six-point advantage on Palermo. Europe was getting closer.
Livorno suffered their 7th consecutive defeat, a pity for Mazzone on his record breaking 788th Serie A appearance on the bench (one more than Nereo Rocco). The Tuscans were joint 9th with Parma on 44 points.
Who played for Lazio
Peruzzi, Oddo, Cribari, Stendardo, Zauri, Behrami, Dabo, Liverani (62' Mudingayi), Mauri (78' Manfredini), Pandev (87' Tare), Rocchi
Manager: D. Rossi
Who played for Livorno
Amelia, Grandoni (71' Fanucci), Vargas, Galante, Cesar Prates, Morrone, Argilli (61' Bakayoko), De Ascentis (67' Ruotolo), Pfertzel, Colucci, Lucarelli
Substitutes: Acerbis, Passoni, Palladino, Paulinho
Manager: Mazzone
Referee: Trefoloni
Goals: 20' Oddo (pen), 52' Colucci, 56' Pandev, 71' Pandev
Red Card: 82' Vargas
Sources
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