Game 23, Serie A
Saturday, February 10, 2024
Unipol Domus, Cagliari
Cagliari Lazio 1-3
Lazio show some signs of improvement and beat Cagliari. Immobile scores his 200th goal in Serie A.
The team
With Nicolò Rovella suspended, Maurizio Sarri chose Danilo Cataldi as playmaker and placed Ciro Immobile as centre forward. There was another return: Elseid Hysaj was put as left back, as a consequence Adam Marusic was more appropriately on the other side so as not to be put in too much trouble defensively seeing that Gustav Isaksen still has to improve his defensive skills.
First half
Lazio started strongly and in the sixth minute had their first chance when a Luis Alberto corner was headed towards the wrong goal by Gaetano. Simone Scuffet saved, as he did a few minutes later when a splendid ball allowed Immobile to be unmarked in front of the goalkeeper but his cannonball was tipped over the crossbar. In the 21st minute coast to coast by Isaksen who once in the box tried a shot but it turned out too weak.
In the 26th minute Luis Alberto took a quick freekick and lobbed a ball for Immobile in the box. Back to the goal, he passed to Felipe Anderson who in turn gave it to up and running Isaksen. Low cross, Paulo Azzi missed the ball completely, it got deflected by Alessandro Deiola and went into the goal.
In the 44th minute Matteo Guendouzi found Luis Alberto in the box but his shot was too high. In the minute of injury time free kick to Cagliari. Nicolas Viola sent a wonderful ball into the box, Gianluca Lapadula back headed it, great save by Ivan Provedel.
Second half
In the interval, Ranieri substituted Azzi and Viola and sent in Alberto Dossena and Zito Luvumbo. Cagliari has often come back in the second 45 minutes after being down and it was hoped that the former Leicester manager could do the trick even this time.
It did trickle a spark of energy as Luvumbo in the 47th minute passed to Nahitan Nandez who from a good position sent the ball wide.
But Lazio had not stopped playing. Hysaj to Felipe Anderson on the left, ball to Isaksen, just outside the box but central, who tried a shot, Scuffet parried but in came Immobile who from a difficult angle tapped the ball in for Lazio’s second. It was his 200th goal in Serie A, the eighth player do so in history, and the third fastest. It took him just 341 games to reach 200 goals, better than him only Giuseppe Meazza (296 matches) and Gunnar Nordhal 238.ù
As Lazio was celebrating, Cagliari reduced the deficit. Less than 60 seconds after the goal, ball on the left to Luvumbo who cleverly pass to Gianluca Gaetano. The former Napoli player advanced, Alessio Romagnoli instead of going forward backed away giving him all the time in the world to aim. Marvellous curved shot and Cagliari were back in the game.
The Rossoblu put enormous pressure on Lazio but the Biancocelesti had the chance to go three up in the 54th minute when Marusic gave a great ball to Immobile in the box, but King Ciro did not make any contact. In the 58th minute Felipe Anderson from the left byline passed to Immobile, ball to Luis Alberto who dribbled a Cagliari defender and shot, shaving the post.
In the 60th minute Antoine Makoumbou in the box tried to surprise Provedel who saved. Nandez then took a corner, the ball was cleared but reached Gaetano. His volley was very well parried by Provedel.
Sarri at this point took off Luis Alberto and Immobile and in came Matias Vecino and Taty Castellanos. For Cagliari Adam Obert was substituted by Tommaso Augello.
The Biancocelesti closed the game in the 65th minute. Castellanos on the left to Vecino central, ball back to the left wing for Felipe Anderson who entered the box and shot. Deflection off a Cagliari player, Cagliari 1 Lazio 3.
This goal took away the strength from Cagliari and Lazio on the counter attack were very menacing.
Daichi Kamada and Pedro came in for Cataldi and Isaksen and the Japanese in the 85th minute almost made it four. Pedro on the left to Kamada in the box who dribbled two players and shot hitting the woodwork.
Good performance from Lazio, much better attitude on the pitch.
Who played for Cagliari
Scuffet, Zappa, Mina (73' Wieteska), Deiola, Obert (63' Augello), Nandez, Makoumbou, Gaetano, Azzi (46' Dossena), Viola (46' Luvumbo); Lapadula (73' Pavoletti).
Substitutes: Radunovic, Aresti, Prati, Jankto, Petagna, Di Pardo.
Manager: Ranieri.
Who played for Lazio
Provedel, Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Hysaj, Guendouzi, Cataldi (78' Kamada), Luis Alberto (62' Vecino), Isaksen (84' Pedro), Immobile (62' Castellanos), Felipe Anderson.
Substitutes: Sepe, Mandas, Lazzari, Pellegrini, Casale, Kamenovic, Napolitano, Sana Fernandes.
Manager: Sarri
Referee: Di Bello
Goals: 27' Deiola (og), 49' Immobile, 51' Gaetano, 65' Felipe Anderson
Booked: Immobile (L), Makoumbou (C), Romagnoli (L), Vecino (L)
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