A Serb shines on Trondheimsfjord

Dag Jenkins
Nov 5, 2023
4 min read

Updated: Nov 12

Season 2015-16

Game 4, Europa League Group G

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Lerkendal Stadion, Trondheim

Rosenborg Lazio 0-2

Two goals by Djordjevic put Lazio on verge of qualification

In their Europa League debut, Lazio had obtained their only draw of the season so far, 1-1 away at Dnipro in Russia but the hosts had equalised in the 94th minute after Sergej Milinkovic-Savic had put Lazio ahead in the first half. They had then won the next two; Saint-Étienne 3-2 and tonight's opposition Rosenborg 3-1, both at home. The table read: Lazio 7, Dnipro 4, Saint-Étienne 4, Rosenborg 1.

To get to the group stage the Rosenborg had eliminated Vikingur Gøta (Faroe Islands) 2-0, KR Reykjavik (Iceland) 4-0, Debrecen (Hungary) 6-3 and Steaua Bucarest 3-1, all on aggregate.

So far in the group the Norwegians had drawn 1 (Saint-Étienne 2-2 away) and lost 2 (Dnipro 0-1 at home and Lazio 1-3 away).

Lazio were favourites this evening but it was not expected to be a formality. Two weeks earlier Lazio had won 3-1 despite being in ten men for 84 minutes but away games in Europe were always tricky and the climate with a 9.05 p.m. start could be an extra factor at these latitudes (it is known for the first snow to arrive as early as October).

The match

Lazio were welcomed in the old city of Nidaros in the Trøndelag region of Norway by a cold but acceptable climate. The atmosphere was warmer inside the Lerkendal Stadion with just under 20,000 spectators present, including 300 from Rome.

Compared to the game in Rome the Norwegians fielded Dane Tobias Mikkelsen in midfield and Pål André Helland up front instead of Swede Mikael Dorsin and Yann-Erik de Lanlay.

Lazio, with the derby coming up, went for a massive turnover. From the starting line-up Stefano Pioli left out Stefano Mauri, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Senad Lulic, Felipe Anderson and Miro Klose.

Lazio started well and after only five minutes Ricardo Kishna was one-on-one with the keeper but was hypnotised by Hansen who saved.

Four minutes later however Lazio scored. In the 9th minute on a Kishna corner Filip Djordjevic timed his jump perfectly and headed past Hansen, 0-1.

The hosts then threatened immediately with a cross by Helland which touched the post before Wesley Hoedt cleared.

It was a flash in the pan for the home side as Lazio controlled the game without further risks. The Romans were quite content to leave the initiative to the Nordic players and then strike on the break.

Ravel Morrison set up by Kishna had a good effort saved by the keeper and then in the 29th minute Lazio scored again. Djordjevic won back the ball and passed to Ogenyi "Eddy" Onazi who raced into the area before returning the ball to the Serb striker whose left foot gave the keeper no chance, 0-2.

In the 33rd minute the locals replaced Tore Reginiussen with Johan Lædre Bjørdal but Lazio continued to dominate. Djordjevic, teed up by Kishna again, missed a sitter that could have definitely put the game out of the Trondhjemmer's reach. Just before the break there was a clear penalty on Stefan Radu for a foul by Jonas Svensson but the referee was of a different view. Antonio Candreva then missed an easy chance by hitting his shot straight at the keeper. Halftime Rosenborg 0 Lazio 2.

An authoritative 45 minutes by Lazio who could have been leading by an even wider margin.

For the second half probably with the derby in mind Lazio took off Candreva and brought on Keita Balde. The Spanish-Senegalese immediately threatened with a shot which was deflected by Bjørdal and went just wide.

In the 62nd minute off went Fredrik Midtsjø and on came Emil Ceide Konradsen and in the 66th Icelandic Matthías Vilhjálmsson replaced star striker Alexander Søderlund while Lazio changed strikers bringing on Alessandro Matri for Djordjevic

Lazio then started to seem a little distracted. Rosenborg had a couple of dangerous shots by Mike Jensen but Etrit Berisha parried.

Lazio then had more chances on the break but Abdoulay Konko and Matri were unable to take advantage of the hosts' unbalanced setup.

In the 76th minute Mauri came on for Morrison. In the 83rd minute Keita reacted unnecessarily to a foul by Helland and was sent off.

Even with ten men Lazio covered the field well and managed to bring home a good 2-0 away win.

A convincing win by Lazio despite fielding mainly reserves. Lazio were now almost qualified, they needed only one more point in the next two games. The table now read: Lazio 10, Saint-Étienne 7, Dnipro 4, Rosenborg 1.

Rosenborg were out but could now concentrate on their imminent league triumph.

Who played for Rosenborg

Hansen, Svensson, Eyjolfsson, Reginiussen (33' Bjordal), Skjelvik, Jensen, Selnæs, Midtsjø (62' Konradsen), Mikkelsen, Søderlund (66' Vihjálmsson), Helland

Substitutes: A.L. Hansen, de Lanlay, Pedersen, Stamnestrø

Manager: Ingebrigtsen

Who played for Lazio

Berisha, Konko, Gentiletti, Hoedt, Radu, Cataldi, Kishna, Onazi, Morrison (76' Mauri), Candreva (46' Keita), Djordjevic (66' Matri)