Game 23, Serie A
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Atalanta 3-0
A Rocchi double, both on penalties, and a goal by Pandev sweep away Atalanta.
Having to play three competitions - Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League - with such a limited, number wise, squad was certainly going to be difficult and Lazio suffered. At the end of the first half of the season Lazio were 14th and very close to the bottom of the table. Not much joy for the fans.
In the winter transfer window, President Claudio Lotito finally came to the rescue and in came Stefan Radu, a promising Romanian defender, David Rozehnal, an experienced Czech defender and Rolando Bianchi, tall centre forward on loan from Manchester City. Fan favourite Ousmane Dabo also returned after 18 disappointing months at Manchester City.
The second half of the season had just started and Lazio really needed a win against Atalanta.
The match
Lazio without Aleksandar Kolarov, Luciano Zauri, Fabio Firmani and Massimo Mutarelli at least managed to recover Radu and Valon Behrami for this game. Delio Rossi decided that Bianchi was not ready to start from the beginning and preferred to play with Goran Pandev.
Tommaso Rocchi had a chance in the 6th minute following a great pass from Stefano Mauri but he was anticipated by Ferdinando Coppola. In the 25th minute there was a penalty for Lazio. Pandev saw Christian Manfredini unmarked on the left just inside the box and passed him the ball. His control was not perfect but he managed to anticipate the Atalanta goalkeeper who knocked him down. Rocchi scored the penalty.
Atalanta began to get a little dangerous towards the end of the first half. Cristiano Doni’s shot from a free kick in the 42nd minute was very well saved by Marco Ballotta.
Atalanta had a big chance in the 48th minute. Doni crossed the ball in the box, Sergio Floccari was anticipated by Sebastiano Siviglia, ball to Tiberio Guarente but his shot was too high. Lazio replied with a mighty whack from Cristian Ledesma which went just over the crossbar.
In the 56th minute, a great assist from Mauri allowed Pandev to fly unmarked towards the box and score. 2-0 for Lazio.
Doni tried again to reduce the deficit but was denied by Ballotta. Bianchi, who had substituted Pandev in the 79th minute, with two minutes to go was brought down in the box. The referee gave Lazio their second penalty and Rocchi made it 3-0.
Who played for Lazio
Ballotta, Behrami, Siviglia, Cribari, Radu, Mudingayi (89’ Dabo), Ledesma, Manfredini, Mauri (84’ De Silvestri), Rocchi, Pandev (79’ Bianchi)
Manager: Rossi
Who played for Atalanta
Coppola, Rivalta, Capelli, Pellegrino, Bellini, Ferreira Pinto (46' Guarente), Tissone, De Ascentis, Langella (51' S. Inzaghi), Doni, Floccari (65' Muslimovic)
Substitutes: Ivan, Padoin, Belleri, Manfredini
Manager: Delneri
Referee: Girardi
Goals: 26’ Rocchi (pen), 56’ Pandev, 88’ Rocchi (pen)
Sources
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