Game 36, Serie A
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Stadio Bentegodi, Verona
Hellas Verona Lazio 1-5
Three goals from Immobile take him closer to the European Golden Boot
Verona started really well and in the 12th minute had a chance. Davide Faraoni, former Lazio, crossed from the right, Mattia Zaccagni, future Lazio, anticipated Patric but his shot was easily saved by Thomas Strakosha. In the 14th minute Lazio appeared up front for the first time with Immobile, whose shot from outside the box was just slightly too high. In the 23rd minute Luis Alberto to Joaquin Correa on the left, ball to Ciro Immobile in the box, Faraoni intercepted into corner but very near the Verona post. In the 26th minute a shot by Miguel Veloso was saved into corner by Strakosha and five minutes later, after a free kick taken by Luis Alberto, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s shot shaved the crossbar.
It seemed Lazio were in control and that the goal was imminent, but instead it went the other way. Zaccagni stole the ball from Luiz Felipe who allegedly tripped him up in the box. It looked, at most, accidental but the referee gave the penalty. Sofyan Amrabat took the spot kick and put Hellas in front.
Lazio equalised in the second minute of injury time. Immobile got kneed in the stomach in the box by Darko Lazovic but the referee ignored the foul until he was called by VAR to have a look at what had happened. The penalty was blatant and King Ciro scored the spot kick. Verona 1 Lazio 1.
The Biancocelesti started the second half with the clear intention of winning. In the 49th minute Djavan Anderson crossed from the left towards the far post, Milinkovic-Savic headed the ball towards centre and Francesco Acerbi’s header shaved the post. Verona responded and two minutes later a cross in the box by Lazovic was deflected by Luiz Felipe and hit the woodwork.
Lazio went ahead in the 56th minute. Free kick for Lazio taken by Milinkovic-Savic, ball deflected by Matteo Pessina and the Verona keeper was beaten. After a Fabio Borini shot saved by Strakosha in the 60th minute, the Biancocelesti made it three in the 63rd. Milinkovic-Savic to Correa in the box on the left, control, shot, 3-1.
Hellas could have reduced the deficit in the 78th minute. Lazovic crossed from the left and Eddie Salcedo, unmarked, headed the ball towards the Lazio goal but a spectacular save from Strakosha kept Lazio’s double lead.
In the 83rd minute, Jordan Lukaku, who had substituted Djavan Anderson in the 65th minute, passed to Immobile just inside the box on the far left. A fantastic shot on the far post and Lazio went 4-1. What a goal!!!
In the third minute of injury time Lazio made it five. André Anderson to Immobile who ran into the box and was fouled by Boris Radunovic. Penalty for Lazio and King Ciro completed his hat trick.
Game over. Not an easy match for Lazio but Immobile was on fire tonight and has now scored 34 league goals, just two away from the Italian record set by Gonzalo Higuain. He also overtook Lewandowski in the Golden Boot race.
Who played for Verona
Radunovic, Veloso, Rrhamani, Gunter, Faraoni (79' Di Marco), Pessina, Amrabat, Lazovic, Borini (67' Di Carmine), Zaccagni (67' Salcedo), Eysseric.
Substitutes: Silvestri, Berardi, Badu, Stepinski, Lucas Felippe, Terracciano.
Manager: Juric.
Who played for Lazio
Strakosha, Patric (65’ Vavro), Luiz Felipe, Acerbi, Marusic (88’ Armini), Milinkovic-Savic (88’ A. Anderson), Parolo, Luis Alberto, D. Anderson (65’ Lukaku), Correa (68’ Caicedo), Immobile
Manager: S. Inzaghi
Referee: Volpi
Goals: 39’ Amrabat, 45+6’ Immobile (pen), 56’ Milinkovic-Savic, 63’ Correa, 84’ Immobile, 90+4’ Immobile (pen).
Sources
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