In the name of Cruz

Season 2009-10

Game 2, Serie A

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Stadio Bentegodi, Verona

Chievo Lazio 1-2

Lazio win coming from behind thanks to a Julio Cruz brace

In the first match of the season Lazio beat Atalanta at home. Today was the second game.

The match: Sunday, August 30, 2009, Stadio Bentegodi, Verona

The beginning was slow but in the fifth minute Lazio had a chance with Francelino Matuzalem who from 25 metres tried a shot which was just slightly wide. In the 13th minute Mauro Zarate hit the woodwork on a free kick. But in the 16th minute Chievo scored. Michele Marcolini took a corner and Sergio Pellissier beat Emilson Cribari and headed the ball past Fernando Muslera.

Chievo started playing well and Lazio had problems in organising their attack. But in the 41st minute there was a penalty for Lazio. Roberto Baronio took a free kick, Santiago Morero held onto Julio Cruz’s shirt and for the ref it was a simple decision. The Argentine forward made no mistake and scored his first goal for the Biancocelesti.

Towards the end of the half Aleksandar Kolarov tried a shot from inside his own half to surprise Chievo’s goalkeeper. It almost worked as he hit the top of the crossbar.

At the beginning of the second half Gianpiero Pinzi gave an excellent ball to Pellissier who ran all alone towards the Lazio goal but his second touch of the ball allowed Muslera to anticipate him. In the 53rd minute Stefano Mauri on the counter attack. Ball to Mauro Zarate on the left who tried a shot that Sorrentino got a hand to but allowed an unmarked Cruz the easiest of chances. Chievo 1 Lazio 2.

In the 59th minute Cribari got a second yellow card and was sent off. In the 65th minute Erjon Bogdani headed a ball crossed from the right which went slightly too high. Seven minutes later a cross from Andrea Mantovani in the Lazio box, Kolarov got to the ball but passed to Simone Bentivoglio who volleyed the ball towards Muslera. The crossbar saved the Biancocelesti.

A good win, an excellent start to the season

Who played for Chievo Verona

Sorrentino, Frey, Morero, Yepes, Mantovani, Luciano (79' De Paula), Rigoni (66' Bentivoglio), Marcolini, Pinzi, Bogdani (66' Granoche), Pellissier

Substitutes: Squizzi, Scardina, Malagò, Ariatti

Manager: Di Carlo

Who played for Lazio

Muslera, Lichtsteiner, Cribari, Radu, Kolarov, Dabo (71’ Scaloni), Baronio, Mauri, Matuzalem, Zarate (90’ Rocchi), Cruz (61’ Diakité)