2022-2023 Season
Game 7
September 18, 2022
Cremona, Stadio Giovanni Zini
Cremonese Lazio 0-4
Lazio (hopefully) prove that the collapse in Denmark was just a bad day at the office by winning comfortably against Cremonese.
The teams
Maurizio Sarri, not pleased after the debacle in Denmark, decides to make three changes to the team that beat Verona last Sunday: in comes Elseid Hysaj to replace injured Manuel Lazzari, Matias Vecino takes Toma Basic’s place and Danilo Cataldi is back in his usual midfield position after his suspension. Cremonese are hoping to secure their first three points of the season.
The Biancocelesti have not won at Cremona since 1983 when a cracking free kick from Bruno Giordano a few minutes from time gave Lazio a miraculous win.
The match
Emanuele Valeri immediately shows why Lazio have laid their eyes on him. The Cremonese defence in the 6th minute puts the ball over the Lazio midfield and defence in the hope that one of their players gets there first (something they will do very often in the match). Valeri runs past Hysaj (something that will happen very often in the match) but his shot is wide.
A minute later Lazio scores in typical fashion. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic sees Ciro Immobile’s move towards the goal and passes. Immobile’s control is perfect, Ionut Radu stays put, and King Ciro makes it 1-0.
Cremonese do not really know what to do and Lazio make it two. In the 20th minute Felipe Anderson tries to cross the ball for Immobile, the Cremonese defence clear, Immobile gets to the ball first and shoots, it hits Luka Lochoshvili and goes out. Lazio scream for handball and VAR comes into action.
The ball hits the Romanian player first on the chest and then the arms that however are high, as if he were being threatened at gunpoint. Penalty for Lazio. Immobile makes it 2-0.
Cremonese lose Vlad Chiriches to injury in the 28th minute. He is substituted by Matteo Bianchetti. Lazio almost make it three six minutes later. The Grigiorossi fumble in the penalty box, ball to Felipe Anderson who instead of just whacking it in goes for precision allowing Bianchetti to save into a corner.
Finally, Cremonese show some initiative in the 38th minute. Usual ball over the Lazio midfield, David Okereke has a chance but his shot is wide.
In the second minute of injury time, Radu clears the penalty box only to give the ball straight to Cataldi who passes it to Immobile. Ciro looks around and sees Mattia Zaccagni in the box. Ball to the former Verona player who shoots, Radu saves but Milinkovic-Savic is there for the tap in. 3-0 for Lazio.
How will Lazio play in the second half?
Lazio has been known to have concentration problems once they are ahead. This is exactly what Cremones are hoping for. They have a good opportunity in the 49th minute when a cross from the left sees Leonardo Sernicola unmarked just inside the penalty box. His shot is walled by Patric’s backside.
A minute later, yet another Cremonese fumble inside the penalty box leads to Felipe Anderson finding himself all alone in front of the goalkeeper. Instead of shooting he passes the ball to Immobile who is caught by surprise and gets there slightly late. His shot is wide.
The Grigiorossi have another chance in the 56th minute. Corner for Cremonese, the cross gets to Bianchetti who times his jump perfectly but not the header that goes wide.
A minute later in come Alessio Romagnoli and Pedro and out go Nicolò Casale and Zaccagni. Yet another chance for Immobile’s hat trick in the 59th minute. Felipe Anderson’s pass finds Immobile on the edge of the penalty box, he goes in and shoots but Radu saves. Eight minutes later Ciro tries again but his shot is too high.
It's Luis Alberto’s turn to come on in the 66th minute. Out goes Vecino.
Valeri shows his skills five minutes later. Santiago Ascacibar’s shot is deflected, ball in the air, Valeri tries a bicycle-kick and Ivan Provedel saves.
Two more substitutions for Lazio in the 78th minute: Basic and Mario Gila on the pitch in place of Milinkovic-Savic and Patric. A minute later, exceptional Lazio counter attack, marvellous pass from Luis Alberto to Immobile who immediately delivers the ball to Pedro. No mistake from the Spaniard and it's 4-0.
Cremonese hoist the white flag and the game comes slowly to an end. Lazio have a chance to make it 5 with two minutes to go. Romagnoli hits the woodwork with a header from a corner.
Good response from Lazio after losing in Europa League.
Who played for Cremonese
Radu; Aiwu, Chiriches (28' Bianchetti), Lochoshvili (46' Vasquez); Sernicola, Meite (63' Pickel), Escalante (46' Ascacibar), Valeri; Zanimacchia (80' Milanese); Okereke, Dessers.
Substitutions: Saro, Ciezkowski, Hendry, Baez, Ciofani, Buonaiuto, Ghiglione, Afena, Quagliata, Tsadjout.
Manager: Alvini.
Who played for Lazio
Provedel; Hysaj, Patric (78' Gila), Casale (57' Romagnoli), Marusic; Milinkovic-Savic (78' Basic), Cataldi, Vecino (67' Luis Alberto); Felipe Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni (57' Pedro).
Substitutions: Maximiano, Adamonis, S. Radu, Kamenovic, Bertini, Marcos Antonio, Cancellieri, Romero
Manager: Sarri
Referee: Orsato
Goals: 7' Immobile, 21' Immobile (rig.), 45'+2' Milinkovic-Savic, 79' Pedro
Bookings: Casale, Vasquez.
コメント