Disaster!!!!
Updated: 3 days ago
Game 12, Serie A
Sunday, October 30, 2022
Rome, Stadio Olimpico
Lazio Salernitana 1-3
A disastrous second half by Lazio hands victory to Salernitana. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic will miss the derby.
The teams
Maurizio Sarri decided it was time for Milinkovic-Savic to have a rest also because one more yellow card meant that he would be suspended for the derby the following Sunday. The only change compared to the game against Atalanta was Luis Alberto in for the Serb. The Salernitana manager Davide Nicola decided to play with Federico Bonazzoli instead of Boulaye Dia who wason the bench.
The match
Lazio started well and had a chance with Mattia Zaccagni in the 8th minute but his shot was too high. In the 10th minute there was a problem for Norbert Gyomber who had to be substituted. Dylan Bronn took his place.
Then nothing. It was as if Lazio had a bunch of keys but did not know which one would open the door of the Salernitana defence. The Salerno team played well however but were never dangerous. Both teams repeatedly passed the ball around in the hope of opening up the defences.
In the 38th minute Bonazzoli lost the ball and Luis Alberto promptly sent Pedro into the box on the right. His shot was just a fraction wide and shaved the post. Three minutes later Lazio scored. Fantastic assist from Luis Alberto to Zaccagni unmarked on the left. The Lazio forward shot the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs and it was 1-0 for the Biancocelesti.
Second half
Lazio had a massive chance with Matias Vecino after only two minutes. Manuel Lazzari crossed from the right, Felipe Anderson magically headed the ball to Vecino who was all alone in front of Luigi Sepe. The Uruguayan alas shot directly at the goalkeeper and the chance was gone. This missed opportunity would cost Lazio the match.
Four minutes later splendid chip over the Lazio defence by Pasquale Mazzocchi for Antonio Candreva, on the right just inside the box, he noticed Ivan Provedel a bit too far out and with a fantastic lob put the ball in the net. Great pass and great goal from the former Lazio player.
Lazio were under shock and as usual when things are not going their way they started to get nervous and haad difficulty in playing the ball. Salernitana instead were playing well, both confident and dangerous.
Lassana Coulibaly had a chance in the 62nd minute. His shot was well saved by Provedel. Two minutes later in came Milinkovic-Savic for Luis Alberto and Dia for Bonazzoli. In the 66th minute Zaccagni had an opportunity but his shot from just inside the box on the left was saved by Sepe.
Disaster for Lazio in the 68th minute. Mazzocchi crossed from the right, Adam Marusic managed to head the ball away but it fell perfectly for Federico Fazio. 2-1 for Salernitana.
Lazio had a chance to equalise three minutes later. Felipe Anderson on the right crossed the ball into the box, Ivan Radovanovich in an attempt to clear inadvertently passed the ball to Vecino unmarked in front of Sepe. The Uruguayan turned and shot but it was wide. This was another massive opportunity squandered by Vecino.
Yellow card for Milinkovic-Savic
The whole world knew that one more booking would have translated into a one match suspension for Milinkovic-Savic, thus not allowing him to play the following Sunday’s derby against Roma. In the 73rd minute the Sergeant ran forward on the left and just before Bronn could confront him he passed the ball to the right. The two players clashed and referee Gianluca Manganiello decided that it was a foul against Lazio and booked Sergej. No derby for him. It was not even a foul. Ridiculous decision.
A nervous Lazio were punished again in the 76th minute. Krzysztof Piatek won the ball off Danilo Cataldi and sent Domagoj Bradaric towards the goal on the left. Great run, ball in the box, Dia scored. 3-1.
The game was over. With ten minutes to go Lazio replaced Marusic, Cataldi and Pedro with Elseid Hysaj, Toma Basic and Matteo Cancellieri. Salernitana changed Coulibaly and Bradaric with Erik Bohinen and Tonny Vilhena.
Vilhena had a chance to make it four for Salernitana in the third minute of injury time but Provedel saved.
A disastrous night for Lazio. The game was in their hands but they let it slip away. Salernitana played very well and deserved to win but if Vecino had scored …
A note on Milinkovic-Savic’s yellow card. Perhaps Sarri was right in saying that the Italian referees did not like Lazio. It was not a foul full stop. It sounded very, very premeditated by the referee. If one considered that he had done the same thing last season with Zaccagni on the eve of the derby booking him for no reason at all. The incredible thing was that the ref apparently asked VAR if the foul was worth a red card!!!
Not a good start to a very important week.
Who played for Lazio
Provedel; Lazzari, Casale, Romagnoli, Marusic (77' Hysaj); Vecino, Cataldi (80' Basic), Luis Alberto (64' Milinkovic-Savic); Pedro (80' Cancellieri), Felipe Anderson, Zaccagni
Manager: Sarri
Who played for Salernitana
Sepe; Gyomber (11' Bronn), Daniliuc, Fazio; Mazzocchi, Candreva, Radovanovic, Coulibaly (82' Coulibaly), Bradaric (82' Vilenha); Piatek (82' Botheim), Bonazzoli (64' Dia)
Substitutes: Fiorillo, Micai, Sambia, Valencia, Kastanos, Capezzi, Iervolino, Lovato, Pirola
Manager: Nicola
Referee: Manganiello
Goals: 41' Zaccagni, 51' Candreva, 68' Fazio, 76' Dia
Bookings: Coulibaly, Milinkovic-Savic, Marusic, Sepe, Dia, Cancellieri.
Comments