Good win to start but flattering score line
Lazio struggle and fall behind but turn game around after red card and penalty
Also on this day: August 31, 1997, Lazio Napoli 2-0. Goals by Mancini and Pancaro break down Napoli's "catenaccio" and give Lazio positive start. Player of the day: Giovanni Lopez
The season so far
Lazio had finished 12th the previous season under Delio Rossi. A disappointing campaign, the highlight being beating Roma 3-2 in March with a 92nd minute Valon Behrami winner. In the Coppa Italia they had reached the semi-finals but lost to Inter 0-2 on aggregate.
This season Rossi was still in charge and the main new players were: keeper Juan Pablo Carrizo (finally... from River Plate), defender Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lille), midfielders Cristian Brocchi (Milan), Pasquale Foggia (Cagliari-end of loan), Francelino Matuzalém (Real Zaragoza-on loan) plus forwards Mauro Zárate (Al-Saad-on loan) and Libor Kozak (Opava).
Leaving were popular keeper Marco Ballotta (Calcara Samoggia), defender Luciano Zauri (Fiorentina-on loan), midfielders Valon Behrami (West-Ham United), Gaby Mudingayi (Bologna), Roberto Baronio (Brescia-on loan) plus strikers Rolando Bianchi (Manchester City-end of loan) and Igli Tare (retiring but he would be back in another role).
Lazio had already played a round of Coppa Italia defeating Benevento 5-1 at the Olimpico but now things got serious.
Cagliari had finished 14th the previous season. The Rossoblu had started under Marco Giampaolo, then Nedo Sonetti and finally from the 18th fixture Davide Ballardini. The games against Lazio had ended in a home win each. Top scorer was Robert Acquafresca with 12 goals (10 in A).
This season the manager was Massimiliano Allegri. The main new arrivals were future Lazio keeper Federico Marchetti (Albinoleffe), defenders Davide Astori (Milan), Carlos Matheu (Independiente) and midfielder Andrea Lazzari (Atalanta).
Leaving were keeper Marco Storari (Milan - end of loan and then Fiorentina), defender Cristiano Del Grosso (Siena), midfielders Pasquale Foggia (Lazio - end of loan) and Marco Mancuso (Rimini - on loan).
Cagliari had started their Coppa Italia campaign a week earlier and had beaten Triestina 1-0 at home.
A difficult game to predict today, a classic 1x2 with the heat possibly playing a role too.
The match: Sunday, August 31, 2008, Stadio Sant'Elia, Cagliari
A sweltering afternoon in Cagliari with a temperature of 33 degrees. A crowd of about 15,000 turned up, many possibly preferring the nearby beautiful beaches before September set in.
Cagliari played with ten players from the previous season, the exception being Marchetti in goal. Lazio on the other hand played with five new players.
Cagliari immediately looked slicker and more organised. Despite the Sardinians superiority, Lazio did have a good move in the 8th minute. A good one-two between Mauro Zarate and Goran Pandev which set the Argentine up for a shot but it went just wide. A hopeful Stephan Lichtsteiner long range effort, comfortably stopped by Marchetti, was the only other thing Lazio offered in the first half.
Cagliari instead were constantly threatening. In the 24th minute Joaquín Larrivey hit the post from a Jeda cross with Carrizo beaten. The Argentine keeper looked hesitant and made several mistakes coming off his line. On one he was saved by David Rozehnal on Daniele Conti (legendary Roma player Bruno's son) but generally looked shaky.
In the 31st minute "Casteddu" went in front. A good Andrea Cossu through ball found Larrivey who chested it down, went past Aleksandar Kolarov and beat Carrizo with a low left foot on the far post. Cagliari 1 Lazio 0. A deserved lead so far.
For the second half Rossi (via assistant Angelo Crialesi) had to change something and went for Pasquale Foggia in replacement of Cristian Brocchi.
In the first fifteen minutes Lazio gave no signs of life but then the game suddenly changed in the 61st minute. Zarate teed up Stefano Mauri who beat the offside trap and shot, Marchetti parried but only as far as Pandev whose shot was saved but by defender Lopez' arm. Penalty and red card for the Uruguayan defender. Zarate took it and despite slipping slightly beat Marchetti with a medium height strike to the keeper's right. Cagliari 1 Lazio 1.
The Sardinians then took off midfielder Andrea Cossu for a more defensive Daniele Magliocchetti. Lazio suddenly smelt blood and attacked. In the 71st it was the Cagliari replacement whose mistake enabled Zarate to lob Marchetti sublimely and give Lazio the lead. Cagliari 1 Lazio 2.
Cagliari then replaced defender Michele Canini with slightly more offensive Andrea Lazzari to try and salvage the increasingly negative situation.
Lazio were rampant and four minutes later scored again. Kolarov crossed from the by-line to Foggia who scored from close range but did not celebrate in respect for his former fans despite being whistled during the game. Cagliari 1 Lazio 3.
Cagliari tried a last change and in the 78th minute threw on striker Alessandro Matri for Jeda.
There was no stopping Lazio now though and in the 89th minute Lazio made it four. Foggia worked a ball well in the area, winning a challenge, then squared to Pandev who despite being back to the goal turned and beat Marchetti for the fourth time. Cagliari 1 Lazio 4.
Pandev then went off substituted by Christian Manfredini and Zarate by Stephen Makinwa. The game was over anyway, one in which up to the 60th minute Lazio were absent but then an episode had sparked an emphatic win albeit with a flattering score line considering the afternoon's events. A promising debut by Zarate but less so by Carrizo.
Who played for Cagliari
Marchetti, Pisano (74' Lazzari), Lopez, Canini, Agostini, Conti, Fini, Biondini, Cossu (64' Magliocchetti), Jeda (78' Matri), Larrivey
Substitutes: Aresti, Acquafresca, Ferri, Parola
Manager: Allegri
Who played for Lazio
Carrizo, Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Rozenhal, Kolarov, Brocchi (46' Foggia), Ledesma, Matuzalem, Mauri, Zarate (92' Makinwa), Pandev (89' Manfredini)
Manager: Rossi (Crialesi on bench today due to suspension)
Referee: Bergonzi
Goals: 31' Larrivey, 62' Zarate (pen), 71' Zarate, 75' Foggia, 84' Pandev
Red card: 61' Lopez (C)
What happened next
Lazio finished 10th in Serie A. The highlight was beating Roma 4-2 in April. Top scorer was Zárate with 16 goals (13 in A).
Things definitely went better in the Coppa Italia. In the next round, on October 1 Lazio beat Atalanta 2-0 with goals by Ledesma and Pandev.
In the last 16, on December 3, Lazio surprisingly won 2-1 away (a.e.t.) at Milan with goals by Zarate (pen) and Pandev.
On January 22, in the quarter finals, Lazio beat Torino 3-1, coming from behind with goals by Pandev, Mauri and Rocchi.
Then came the double-legged semi-final against Juventus. In Rome, in March, Lazio won 2-1 again coming from behind with Pandev and Rocchi. Lazio then also won in Turin with goals by Zárate and Kolarov while Del Piero pulled one back for the Zebras. Lazio were in the final.
On May 13 Lazio faced Sampdoria in Rome (Olimpico is now the fixed final venue). A hard-fought game ended up 1-1 with goals by Zárate and Pazzini. The penalty shootout went Lazio's way after seven penalties, Muslera saving two and Ousmane Dabo firing home the winning spot kick. Lazio 7 Sampdoria 6. Lazio won their 5th cup and it was a fitting end to Delio Rossi's positive reign with the Biancocelesti. Next up was the Supercoppa against Inter, in August in Beijing with today's Cagliari's coach on the Lazio bench, but that's another story.
Cagliari had an awful start to Serie A. After six games the islanders only had one point. The club however resisted the temptation to sack Allegri and were ultimately rewarded. In the next 32 games the Rossoblu earned 52 points and finished 9th, three points above Lazio. Their wins included a revenge 4-1 win against Lazio in Rome, Bologna 5-1 and Inter 2-1 at home plus Juventus 3-2 away and a 1-1 away draw at Inter. Top scorer was Robert Acquafresca with 14 league goals.
Inter won their 17th Scudetto while Lecce, Reggina and Torino would play in the second flight the following year.
Lazio 2008-09
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 38 | 15 | 5 | 18 | 48 |
Coppa Italia | 7 | 6 | 1 | - | 17 |
Total | 45 | 21 | 6 | 18 | 63 |
Top five appearances (complete player statistics)
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
41 | 34 | 7 | |
41 | 36 | 5 | |
40 | 33 | 7 | |
39 | 33 | 6 | |
37 | 31 | 6 |
Top goal scorers (complete player statistics)
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Mauro Zarate | 16 | 13 | 3 |
Goran Pandev | 15 | 9 | 6 |
11 | 9 | 2 |
Let's talk about Juan Pablo Carrizo
Juan Pablo Carrizo was born in Santa Fe, Argentina, on May 6, 1984.
At 17 he joined the River Plate youth academy and then joined the first team squad in 2004. He made his debut in 2005-06 and went on to play 76 games for "Los Millonarios" over the next three seasons. In 2008 he won the Clausura title.
In 2008 he arrived at Lazio. In reality the Romans had signed him a year earlier but due to bureaucratic problems he had to stay at River for one more season.
He was welcomed with great enthusiasm in Rome and was Claudio Lotito's most expensive signing so far in his four-year ownership. Lazio were convinced he was the top goalkeeper they had been waiting for since Angelo Peruzzi's retirement.
The manager was Delio Rossi and Carrizo made his debut in a cup game against Benevento on August 23. His performances however were not particularly convincing, he was often hesitant coming off his line or overconfident with the ball when challenged by opposition forwards. After a heavy 1-4 home defeat to Cagliari, he lost his place to Uruguayan Fernando Muslera. Carrizo then only played the last three league games of the season. In total he played 23 league games and 1 in Coppa Italia. The season ended with Lazio triumphing in the Coppa Italia but the penalty shootout hero was Muslera not Carrizo. In Serie A the Biancocelesti finished 10th.
In the summer he was loaned to Saragozza as part of the Francelino Matuzalém deal. In Aragon he started as first choice but there too was then relegated to the bench. He played 16 league games and 1 in the Copa del Rey.
Lazio then loaned him back to River Plate where in January he suffered a serious ankle injury which kept him out for 3 months. When he returned, he made several howlers, including one against Boca Juniors. To make things worse he had a run in with manager Filol who resigned and River were also relegated.
At this point he came back to Lazio to become third keeper behind Federico Marchetti and Albano Bizzarri. He played 2 league games before being loaned to Catania in January 2012. In Sicily he played 14 league games under manager Vincenzo Montella and the Elephants finished a positive 11th.
In 2012-13 he was back at Lazio for the third time. He only played 1 Coppa Italia game under Vladimir Petkovic before leaving for Inter in January. He therefore missed out on Lazio's epic Coppa Italia win against Roma. He did contribute to the eventual triumph by helping Lazio win a penalty shootout against Siena in the last 16 in which he saved two penalties.
He stayed in Milan with Inter for four and a half seasons. He was Samir Handanovic' reserve and in total played 27 games (9 in A, 7 in CI and 11 in EL). Inter finished 9th, 5th, 8th, 4th and 7th. His managers were Andrea Stramaccioni, Walter Mazzarri, Roberto Mancini and then in his last year, Frank de Boer, Stefano Vecchi and Stefano Pioli. At the end of his contract, he moved to Mexico.
In 2017-18 he played for Monterrey. He played 26 total games for the Albiazules before leaving in December 2018. He won an Apertura title in 2017.
His last club was Cerro porteño in Paraguay. He played a total of 41 games before retiring at 35.
Carrizo earned 12 caps for Argentina and won a silver medal at the 2017 Copa América.
Carrizo was a physical goalkeeper at 1.89 and 88 kilos. He had talent, strength, good feet but for one reason or another never imposed himself as a reliable keeper.
At Lazio, also due to the lengthy wait, when he arrived, he was treated like a superstar. Unfortunately, this did not last long and he was a huge disappointment. His legacy is his two superb penalty saves in Coppa Italia without which there would have been no May 26, 2013, an eternal date in all Laziali's hearts.
Lazio Career
Season | Appearances | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
2008-09 | 24 | 23 | 1 |
2011-12 | 2 | 2 | - |
2012-13 | 1 | - | 1 |
Total | 27 | 25 | 2 |
Sources
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