Sarri wins the derby
Game 6, Serie A
Sunday, September 26, 2021
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Roma 3-2
Milinković-Savić, Pedro and Felipe Anderson struck as Lazio twice opened up a two-goal lead before surviving a late Roma assault
After five games Lazio were seventh. The had won the first two games against Empoli and Spezia, then lost in Milan and drawn with Cagliari at home and Torino away.
The match
After just ten minutes Lazio were already leading. Ciro Immobile helped create the move before Felipe Anderson delivered a perfect cross from the right. Sergej Milinković-Savić had timed his run perfectly. The Serbian rose above the Roma defence and powered a header towards goal. Rui Patrício came out to challenge and almost decapitated the Sergent, but could do nothing to prevent the ball from finding the net. 1-0 to the Biancocelesti, although the Portuguese goalkeeper was lucky to escape with only a yellow card for his reckless challenge on Milinković-Savić.
In the 19th minute there was a collision between Nicolò Zaniolo and Elseid Hysaj inside the Lazio penalty area. Roma wanted a penalty, but referee Guida waved play on. The Biancocelesti immediately broke forward. Luis Alberto found Immobile, who carried the ball towards the Roma area before picking out Pedro. The Spaniard took his chance first time and his low shot flew beyond Rui Patrício. 2-0. A fantastic start for Maurizio Sarri's Lazio. With this goal Pedro became the third player, after Arne Selmosson and Aleksandar Kolarov, to score in the derby for both clubs.
Roma reacted and in the 26th minute Jordan Veretout sent a missile from outside the box, forcing Pepe Reina to fly across his goal and deflect the shot behind. From the resulting corner, Zaniolo rose higher than Hysaj at the far post, but his header crashed against the woodwork. In the 37th minute Henrikh Mkhitaryan made a mistake in midfield, allowing Felipe Anderson to move forward. He found Immobile inside the box, but the striker's shot hit the outside of the net. Roma finally got their reward four minutes before half-time. Veretout delivered a corner and Roger Ibañez rose above the defenders to head the ball into the net. 2-1.
A few minutes into the second half Luis Alberto won a free kick and sent the ball into the box. Milinković-Savić got his head to it and inadvertently turned it into an assist for Immobile, who was completely alone in front of Rui Patrício but slightly to the left. His attempted volley went wide. Roma were still threatening, but Lazio continued to find space on the counter-attack.
In the 63rd minute Luis Alberto sent a wonderful ball forward for Immobile, who raced towards the Roma penalty area. Once inside, he dummied, sent Gianluca Mancini the wrong way and waited for the arrival of Felipe Anderson. The Brazilian had the simplest of tasks, sweeping the ball into the empty net. 3-1.
Massive controversy five minutes later. Zaniolo fell in the penalty box like a ripe fruit while trying to shoot and the referee pointed to the spot. Behind him was Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro. Zaniolo may have hit him as he went to shoot, but it was totally casual and absolutely no penalty. Guida, perhaps looking to appease José Mourinho, gave Roma the spot kick, which Veretout converted. The match was suddenly open again.
Roma attacked in search of an equaliser. Mkhitaryan shot narrowly wide before Zaniolo forced a magnificent save from Reina, who threw himself across goal to keep out a powerful effort. Lazio survived the pressure and had chances to settle the derby once and for all. Immobile came close late on, but Rui Patrício parried his shot, while Reina saved again from Eldor Shomurodov as Roma made one final attempt to rescue the game.
They could not. Lazio had won the derby. Sarri had beaten Mourinho. Time to celebrate.
Who played for Lazio
Reina, Marusic, Luiz Felipe, Acerbi, Hysaj, Milinković-Savić, Leiva (61' Cataldi), Luis Alberto (66' Akpa Akpro), Felipe Anderson, Immobile (89' Muriqi), Pedro
Manager: Sarri
Who played for Roma
Rui Patrício, Karsdorp (82' Zalewski), Mancini, Ibañez, Viña (82' Smalling), Cristante, Veretout, Zaniolo (77' Carles Pérez), Mkhitaryan, El Shaarawy (64' Shomurodov), Abraham
Substitutes: Boer, Fuzato, Kumbulla, Calafiori, Bove, Darboe, Diawara, Borja Mayoral
Manager: Mourinho
Referee: Guida
Goals: 10' Milinković-Savić, 19' Pedro, 41' Ibañez, 63' Felipe Anderson, 68' Veretout (pen)
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