Strange, Caicedo scores early!!!!

Simon Basten
Apr 28, 2024
3 min read

Season 2018-19

Game 34, Serie A

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa

Sampdoria Lazio 1-2

Uncharacteristically Felipe Caicedo scores an early brace allowing Lazio to win against Sampdoria

So far, the season had been a little bit disappointing. Lazio were currently eighth, four points away from Milan and Atalanta in fourth position. Unable to come to terms with the bigger teams, Lazio also occasionally struggled with the smaller ones. With five games left, Champions League was no longer a possibility.

The match

Minute number three. Omar Colley tried to start play from the half way line but was dispossessed by Felipe Caicedo who ran towards the box followed by the Gambian who could not keep up as Felipao entered the penalty area and comfortably beat Emil Audero. Lazio already ahead.

And it could have been 2-0 shortly after when Joaquin Correa dribbled past a few players, entered the box on the left and from very close to the byline tried a shot which Audero parried.

Sampdoria attacked but it was Lazio who scored again. Fabio Quagliarella from the left of the Lazio box tried to pass towards the centre but the ball was intercepted by Lucas Leiva who passed to Correa on the right wing. The Argentinian moved centrally but saw Romulo advancing on the wing, ball to him, cross and Caicedo headed it in for the 2-0 and his brace. A rarity for the Ecuadorian to score so early in a match!!!

Samp tried a comeback but were only dangerous on a Gaston Ramirez free kick very well saved by Thomas Strakosha. Caicedo had a couple of chances to score his hat-trick but the first half ended on 2-0 for Lazio. The home team however would be playing in ten men as Ramirez was shown a second yellow card and sent off in the 45th minute.

In the second half the Biancocelesti almost made it three. On the counter attack in the 54th minute Caicedo to Romulo on the right. The Brazilian entered the box and tried a shot which hit the woodwork on the far post. After another chance for Caicedo, Sampdoria reduced the deficit. In the 57th minute Albin Ekdal tried a lob over the Lazio defensive duo, Francesco Acerbi tried to head the ball away but it became a perfect pass to Quagliarella who had no difficulty in scoring.

The goal gave new life to Sampdoria who almost equalised with Nicola Murru who from the left outside the box let go a massive whack which hit the post. Then it was Lazio to hit the crossbar with Ciro Immobile on a freekick in the 75th minute. The ball bounced back on the line, just about. A minute later Jakub Jankto crossed low in the box for Gregoire Defrel completely alone in the centre of the area, but the Frenchman kicked the ball wide.

Lazio managed to bring back the three points, but they had over complicated matters.

Who played for Sampdoria

Audero, Sala (82' Gabbiadini), Ferrari, Colley (16' Tonelli), Murru, Praet, Ekdal, Linetty (46' Jankto), Ramirez, Defrel, Quagliarella

Substitutes: Rafel, Belec, Bereszyinski, Tavares, Barreto, Vieira, Saponara, Caprari, Sau

Manager: Giampaolo

Who played for Lazio

Strakosha, Wallace, Acerbi, Bastos, Romulo (68' Marusic), Parolo, Leiva, Cataldi (77' Badelj), Lulic, Correa, Caicedo (63' Immobile)