Better in second half

Season 2010-11

Game 2, Serie A

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Bologna 3-1

After a boring first half, Lazio improve in the second and score with Mauri, Rocchi and Hernanes

Today’s game was the second match of the season. In the first Lazio had lost 2-0 to Sampdoria.

The match

Lazio back at the Olimpico for the first home game of the season. It was September 12 but it was still hot and playing at 3pm was not the easiest of things. The game was pretty boring. The Biancocelesti did little, Bologna even less. A Stefano Mauri header and an Hernanes shot, both saved comfortably by Emiliano Viviano on one side, and a Marco Di Vaio attempt at scoring the goal of the century but failing epically were the only things of any note in the first half.

The match was much more lively in the second half. Di Vaio headed the ball out from an impossible position following a corner and a magnificent free kick from Hernanes which shaved the outside of the net where the antipasto for what was coming next.

In the 69th minute Cristian Brocchi ran through the Bologna half, ball to Tommaso Rocchi on the left in the box, low cross for Mauri who had a simple tap in to put Lazio ahead. Six minutes later Hernanes received the ball in the opposition’s half just past the halfway line and passed to Mauri who saw Rocchi run in from the left. Splendid flying first touch to the Lazio centre-forward, Viviano was half way out of the goal so Rocchi volleyed a lob over the goalkeeper that fell into the goal. 2-0 for Lazio. A fantastic goal.

In the 78th minute there was a free kick for Bologna. Luca Siligardi crossed into the box; the ball was cleared by the defence but landed exactly where Gaby Mudingayi was, outside the box on the left. The former Lazio player controlled and then whacked the ball towards the goal. Fernando Muslera could do nothing and the Rossoblu reduced the deficit.

Bologna then could even have equalised. Siligardi on the right crossed perfectly for Daniele Papponi all alone at the centre of the Lazio box, but the forward headed the ball over the crossbar.

In the second minute of injury time Lazio made it three. Pasquale Foggia on the right dribbled past a couple of players and passed the ball to Libor Kozak who had a little bit of difficulty stopping it but as he was passing the ball back to Hernanes he was bulldozed by Daniele Portanova. Penalty to Lazio. Hernanes took the spot kick and scored his first goal for his new club.

Game over, a good win for Lazio but there is still work to do.

Who played for Lazio

Muslera, Lichtsteiner, Biava, Dias, Radu, Brocchi (52’ Bresciano), Ledesma, Mauri, Hernanes, Zarate (46’ Kozak), Rocchi (76’ Foggia)