November 3 2014: Lazio-Cagliari 4-2
Ederson turns lights back on
The Brazilian closes out the game after ten-man Cagliari attempt surprising comeback
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished a poor 9th. They had replaced manager Vladimir Petkovic with Edy Reja after 16 matches, so the honeymoon with the Swiss was over but not his legacy (2013 Coppa Italia triumph).
This season Lazio had a new manager in Stefano Pioli. There had also been several changes to the squad, some major, some minor. The biggest buy for Lazio was Dutch central defender Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord) who had impressed at the recent 2014 World Cup. Other good signings were defender Dušan Basta (Udinese) and midfielder Marco Parolo (Parma). Another new face was Serbian striker Filip Djordjevic (Nantes - end of contract) while local lad Danilo Cataldi was back from a loan period (Crotone). In the later winter session the defender Mauricio would also arrive (Sporting Lisbon).
Sadly some players left, in particular Giuseppe Biava (end of contract) and André Dias (retired). Other minor movements were mainly in attack: Emiliano Alfaro (Liverpool Montevideo - on loan), Brayan Perea (Perugia - loan/ he would return in January) and Hélder Postiga (Valencia - end of loan). In the winter session popular Uruguayan midfielder Álvaro "El Tata" Gonzalez would leave for Torino.
The first part of the season had been a mixed bag but things were now looking up. Lazio had lost three out of the first four matches but then won the next four and drew at Verona. The Biancocelesti had therefore won 5, drawn 1 and lost 3, so on 16 points and in 3rd place with Sampdoria, Milan and Udinese but the Rossoneri and Bianconeri had both lost at home over the weekend, 0-2 to Palermo and 2-4 to Genoa.
In the Coppa Italia the Aquile had started in August by defeating Bassano Virtus 7-0 at home. They would face Varese next in the 4th round, at home in December.
Dutch International de Vrij had confirmed to be a class act, Parolo a reliable, solid club player and Djordjevic had scored 5 goals (including a hat-trick against Palermo).
Cagliari had finished 15th on 39 points the previous season (+ 7 on B). The Rossoblu had started with Uruguayan manager Diego López (1-32) and finished with Ivo Pulga (33-38). They had lost 0-2 to Lazio both in Rome and at home. The top scorer was Mauricio Pinilla with 8 goals (7 in A).
This season the manager was Zdenĕk Zeman. The main new players were: goalkeeper Alessio Cragno (Brescia), defenders Luca Ceppitelli (Bari), Antonio Balzano (Pescara) and Marco Capuano (Pescara), midfielders João Pedro (Estoril Praia), Godfred Donsah (Verona) and Lorenzo Crisetig (Inter - on loan via Crotone) plus forwards Carlo Rangel (Flamengo), Samuele Longo (Inter - on loan via Rayo Vallecano) and Diego Farias (Chievo via Sassuolo).
In January goalkeeper Željko Brkić (Udinese - on loan), defenders Modibo Diakité (Deportivo Coruña) and Alejandro Gonzalez (Verona - on loan) plus forwards Paul-José M'Poku (Standard Liege - on loan) and Duje Čop (Partizan Belgrade) would also be added.
Leaving Cagliari were: goalkeeper Marco Silvestri (Chievo - end of loan then Leeds United), defenders Gabriele Perico (Cesena) and Davide Astori (Roma - on loan), midfielders Matías Cabrera (Estoril Praia), Agim Ibraimi (Maribor - end of loan) and Matías Vecino (Fiorentina - end of loan, then Empoli on loan) plus forwards Mauricio Pinilla (Genoa) and Nenè (Verona).
In January midfielder Sebastian Eriksson (IFK Göteborg) and forward Victor Ibarbo would also leave (Roma - on loan).
Cagliari were on 9 points in 14th place (with Palermo) after 2 wins (Inter 4-1 and Empoli 4-0 away), 3 draws (including Milan recently 1-1 at home) and 4 defeats (including 3 out of first 4). After a bad start "Casteddu" seemed to be improving.
In the Coppa Italia the Sardinians had beaten Catania 2-0 at home in August. They would play Modena next at home in December.
Lazio were favourites tonight but Cagliari had already scored 9 goals in 4 away games so they had to be careful.
The match: Monday, November 3, 2014, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A 9 pm Monday night kick off brought just under 35,000 spectators to the Olimpico.
Lazio had three players unavailable: defenders Dušan Basta and Stefan Radu plus forward Keita Balde.
Cagliari were without defenders Danilo Avelar and Antonio Balzano.
Lazio started at a frantic pace and a high, intense press. Cagliari too decided to attack which left Lazio a lot of space.
Lazio took the lead in the 7th minute. Following a corner, Lucas Biglia tried a shot into the crowded area where, after a ricochet, Stefano Mauri anticipated Luca Rossettini and poked the ball in from close range, 1-0.
Cagliari responded with Marco Sau who exploited some sloppy defending by Senad Lulic to race towards goal along the byline and go round Michaël Ciani but Federico Marchetti saved into corner.
Cagliari did not change their approach and Lazio took advantage. In the 25th minute they put together an excellent team move. Miro Klose passed to Antonio Candreva, he crossed into the area to Lulic who headed down to the German striker who had advanced and he volleyed in from close range, 2-0.
A minute later Klose got his brace. On the counter attack Lulic burst forward and teed up Klose to his left, the "Fisher king" took the ball on and once inside the area beat Alessio Cragno with the help of a slight deflection, 3-0. Halftime came with Lazio cruising.
There were no changes during the break but things soon changed back on the field.
First Víctor Ibarbo forced Marchetti to punch away a powerful drive and then in the 47th minute the Sardinians pulled a goal back. In a crowded area Sau tried to put the ball towards the goal mouth where it bounced off Edson Braafheid's arm and went in, 3-1.
Lazio tried to restore their three goal cushion but Lulic was slightly too far forward on a low Candreva cross and unable to turn the ball towards goal.
In the 58th minute the islanders made two defensive changes: Antonio Balzano for Francesco Pisano and Simone Benedetti for Luca Ceppitelli. Four minutes later Filip Djordjevic replaced Klose for Lazio.
Cagliari now believed more and Albin Ekdal played in Ibarbo in front of Marchetti but the Bassano del Grappa-born keeper came out well and saved, the rebound fell to Lorenzo Crisetig just outside the area but he fired over the bar.
Cagliari's attempted comeback was seemingly stunted in the 72nd minute when Ibarbo got himself sent off. The Colombian was held back by Lulic but jerked his arm wildly to free himself from the Bosnian, it was judged dangerous play and so he got his marching orders.
The game seemed to be under control for Lazio at this point, two goals up and with an extra player.
In the 79th minute both sides made a substitution, for Cagliari a more attacking minded one with João Pedro coming on for Crisetig and for Lazio a more conservative one with Eddy Onazi replacing Lulic.
Lazio relaxed too much and in the 79th minute the Brazilian replacement scored. Rossettini crossed long from the left to the opposite side of the area and Benedetti headed it back in towards the front post where João Pedro twisted and volleyed in from close range, 3-2.
Lazio who had thought the game to be done and dusted at half time were rattled.
Lazio tried to keep possession but were clearly tense. In the 88th minute they took off Mauri and introduced Ederson.
It proved to be the right move as in the second minute of added time the former Olympique Lyonnais player saved Lazio's blushes. Candreva pushed down the right side of the area and approaching the byline squared a low ball which cut out the defenders and reached the completely unmarked Brazilian midfielder who had the easy task of beating Cragno, 4-2.
A game of two halves as they say. In the first Lazio were quick, sharp and lethal and there was no contest. In the second they slowed down and were too relaxed which then gave way to apprehension and nerves.
Cagliari had been blown away in the first half hour but credit to them they continued to fight and in the last minutes despite being a man down believed in an incredible comeback but ultimately fell just short.
Lazio were still 3rd, now on 19 points with Sampdoria.
Cagliari were down to 15th, on 9 points with Atalanta and now only two points above the drop zone.
Who played for Lazio
Marchetti, Pereirinha, de Vrij, Ciani, Braafheid, Parolo, Biglia, Lulic (79' Onazi), Candreva, Klose (62' Djordjevic), Mauri (88' Ederson)
Substitutes: Berisha, Strakosha, Cana, Konko, Novaretti, Gonzalez, Cataldi, Ledesma, Felipe Anderson
Manager: Pioli
Who played for Cagliari
Cragno, Pisano (58' Balzano), Ceppitelli (58' Benedetti), Rossettini, Murru, Crisetig (79' João Pedro), Conti, Ekdal, Ibarbo, Sau, Cossu
Substitutes: Colombi, Capuano, Capello, Dessena, Donsah, Longo, Farias
Manager: Zeman
Referee: Di Bello
Goals: 7' Mauri, 25' Klose, 26' Klose, 47' Braafheid (og), 84' João Pedro, 92' Ederson
Red Card: 72' Ibarbo
What happened next
Lazio had an excellent season. The Biancocelesti lost the next two games but between February 9 and April 12 had eight consecutive victories (including Cagliari 3-1 away). The winning roll was interrupted by an away defeat at Juventus. There were more wins (Sampdoria and Parma) but also defeats (Inter and Roma) so the Champions League qualification all went down to the last match, away in Naples.
It was a dramatic match to say the least. Lazio needed a draw to clinch third place while Napoli had to win. The first half ended with the Biancocelesti 2-0 up and seemingly in control with goals by Parolo and Candreva.
The second half was a rollercoaster. In the 55th minute Napoli pulled one back with Higuain. In the 62nd minute Lazio were reduced to ten men when Parolo was shown a red card. In the 64th minute Higuain scored again to make it 2-2.
The Napoli faithful smelt blood and the stadium was on fire, things were not looking good for Lazio. A glimmer of hope came in the 70th minute when Napoli too were forced to play in a man less as Goulam was given his marching orders.
The hope was short lived as in the 76th minute the "Partenopei" were awarded a penalty probably worth about 9 billion Euros. The "Pepita" Higuain stepped up and, to the horror of the locals and relief of the Laziali, blasted the ball over the bar towards Vesuvius.
Lazio regained vigour after being on the brink of disaster. Four minutes after the penalty drama an unlikely hero appeared in the form of Eddy Onazi. In the 80th minute he took advantage of a Napoli mistake and from midfield went straight towards goal and then beat the keeper as he came out. Napoli 2 Lazio 3, an incredible turnaround in the space of a few minutes.
Napoli were distraught and Klose made it 4-2 in the 92nd minute. An incredible night gave Lazio third place and a Champions League preliminary qualification.
The hero of the hour was Nigerian Onazi and the Laziale saying "Onazi è l'unico nazi che ci piace" was never as popular. The saying is obviously lost in translation but is a play on words stating that the Nigerian is the only nazi we like.
Lazio finished the season 3rd with 69 points after 21 wins, 6 draws and 11 defeats. The top scorer was Klose with 16 (13 in Serie A).
Lazio also reached the final of Coppa Italia. They then defeated Varese 3-0, Torino 3-1 away, Milan 1-0 away and Napoli 2-1 on aggregate. In the final however they were defeated 2-1 by Juventus in extra time (after Djordjevic had hit a freakish double post).
Alas Lazio would never get into the Champions League group stage as in August 2015 they were defeated 3-1 on aggregate by Bayer Leverkusen in the preliminary round.
Cagliari finished 18th and relegated (- 3 from survival). In the next 6 games they drew 3 and lost 3. At this point they sacked Zeman and brought in Gianfranco Zola (with Gigi Casiraghi as assistant) who in 10 matches won 2, drew 2 and lost 6. Not a great improvement so Zeman was called back but only gained one point in 5 matches so for the last 7 games Gianluca Festa was in charge (W4, D1 and L2) but it was too late. The top scorer was Marco Sau with 9 goals (7 in A).
In the Coppa Italia the Rossoblu beat Modena on penalties (after 4-4 draw) but then lost to Parma 1-2 away in the last 16.
Cagliari bounced straight back up. They were relegated in 2021-22 but again only spent one season in Serie B and have been back in Serie A ever since.
The 2014-15 Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 31st time while Cagliari travelled down to Serie B with Parma and Cesena (the latter have not been up again since).
The Champions League was won by Barcelona who beat Juventus 3-1 in Berlin.
Lazio Jersey 2014-15
Sources: Football Kit Archive, except red goalkeeper (Lazio Wiki)
Lazio started the season with a traditional shirt. Light blue with a white v-neck collar and cuffs. The technical sponsor was Macron.
In January 2015, after almost 30 years, Lazio and the sponsor Macron brought back the "maglia bandiera". It had previously been used in 1982-83 and 1986-87. The latest version was a faithful reproduction of the 1986-87 shirt, upper half white and lower half light blue with the dark blue stylized eagle across the middle and onto the sleeves. The v-neck collar was light blue as were the shorts.
This shirt proved to be immensely popular again and sold extremely well all around the world.
The second shirt was white with thin light blue vertical stripes and light blue shorts. It was similar to the 1933 shirt.
The third shirt was claret with a light blue band across the chest and divided by a thin white line. The collar was light blue and the shorts claret. This shirt is remembered for being the one worn in the epic 4-2 away win in Naples which gave Lazio a Champions League preliminary qualification.
The goalkeeper's shirt was also a "maglia bandiera". It was green while the eagle was white.
Sources
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