Ciro + Ciro
Updated: 6 days ago
Game 23, Serie A
Sunday, February 19, 2023
Stadio Arechi, Salerno
Salernitana Lazio 0-2
A Ciro Immobile double sweeps away Salernitana
The teams
Maurizio Sarri changed four players compared to those who started the Confederation League game last Thursday. In came Ivan Provedel, Adam Marusic, Luis Alberto and Pedro from the start. Patric was confirmed in defence. Mattia Zaccagni was out due to suspension and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic due to intestinal flu.
Salernitana presented their new manager, Paulo Sosa, former Fiorentina, Bordeaux and Flamengo manager, among many, and former Juventus and Inter player.
The match
Lazio started cautiously and Salernitana tried to take advantage. In the 7th minute a Krzysztof Piatek shot was comfortably saved by Provedel. In the 14th minute Antonio Candreva flew down the right wing and once near the box attempted a shot. Wide.
In the 19th minute long pass from Marusic to Ciro Immobile. King Ciro back heeled the ball forward and tried to beat two defenders. He couldn't so in the end once in the box he chose to shoot from an impossible angle, Luigi Sepe saved.
The Biancocelesti gradually took control of the match and Salernitana disappeared. In the 27th minute one-two Luis Alberto-Immobile. The Spaniard was on the edge of the box and passed to Matias Vecino whose shot was deflected by Flavius Danilus into corner. Seven minutes later, Luis Alberto to Pedro just inside the box on the left. His shot was well saved by Sepe.
In the 40th minute Domagoj Bradaric crossed from the left, Provedel missed the ball completely. Candreva recovered it and shot but the Lazio goalkeeper was quick enough to get back in goal and save.
Lazio were not playing too badly but they were tending to ignore the wings and concentrating on one-twos outside the box which so far had not been effective.
Second half
During the interval Sousa changed Tonny Vilhena with Diego Valencia and later Grigoris Kastanos came in for Federico Bonazzoli who for most of January had been predicted by Italian so called mercato experts to join Lazio.
In the 55th minute there should have been a warning bell for the Portuguese manager. Felipe Anderson with a marvellous play went off on the right wing. He would have been completely alone for almost half the length of the pitch if Lorenzo Pirola had not fouled him. Six minutes later, Felipe Anderson to Vecino who sent the ball over the Salernitana players on the right wing and Marusic came thundering along, collected the ball, ran towards the box and crossed low for a comfortable tap in from Ciro Immobile. 1-0 for Lazio thanks to a predictable play. Salernitana by being aggressive had left gaps in their armour and the Biancocelesti took full advantage.
In the 66th minute Candreva took a corner, Pirola headed towards the centre of the box, Dylan Bronn tried a bicycle kick but the shot waas too high. Lazio collected the ball and Provedel tried to reach Immobile but it was too far to the right. Pirola let it bounce and waited for Sepe to come out and claim it but Immobile managed to get to the ball before the goalkeeper who brought him down. Penalty for Lazio and Immobile scored his double.
Sousa changed three players in the 75th minute: out went Pirola, Piatek and Domen Crnigoj, in came Junior Sambia, Erik Botheim and Matteo Lovato. Sarri also made a couple of substitutions: Toma Basic and Luka Romero for Vecino and Pedro. In the 86th minute Matteo Cancellieri replaced King Ciro.
In the 88th minute Felipe Anderson gave the new entry a splendid ball in the box but before he could do anything he was fouled by Bronn. Penalty for Lazio. Bronn was then sent off for dissent. Luis Alberto took the spot kick but Sepe parried. The ball went back to Luis Alberto who had an open goal chance but he shot wide.
Game over, good three points for Lazio.
Who played for Salernitana
Sepe; Bronn, Daniliuc, Pirola (30' st Sambia); Candreva, Coulibaly, Crnigoj (30' st Lovato), Bradaric; Vilhena (1' st Valencia); Bonazzoli (14' st Kastanos), Piatek (30' st Botheim)
Substitutes: Ochoa, Fiorillo, Bohinen, Gyomber, Iervolino, Nicolussi Caviglia
Manager: Sousa
Who played for Lazio
Provedel; Marusic, Casale, Patric, Hysaj; Vecino (77' Basic), Cataldi, Luis Alberto; Felipe Anderson, Immobile (86' Cancellieri), Pedro (77' Romero)
Substitutes: Maximiano, Adamonis, Lazzari, Fares, Pellegrini, Gila, Marcos Antonio, Basic, Milinkovic-Savic, Romero
Manager: Maurizio Sarri
Referee: Abisso
Goals: 60' Immobile, 60' Immobile (pen)
Bookings: Vecino, Pirola, Valencia, Bronn, Daniliuc
Sent off: Bronn
Comments