Champions League Third Qualifying Round, First Leg
Tuesday August 14, 2007
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Dinamo București 1-1
Lazio manage to draw a chaotic game and give themselves a chance to reach the Champions League Group stage
Since it was still August, Lazio were in full transfer mode. There was the problem of the goalkeeper to solve. Angelo Peruzzi had retired and Lazio were looking for a substitute. Juan Pablo Carrizo was the chosen one but there was a problem with his passport. He had applied for an Italian one but it had not arrived yet. So far Lazio had signed Aleksandar Kolarov, a young Serb left back with a powerful shot, Mourad Meghni from Bologna, Lionel Scaloni and Simone Del Nero on a free transfer. It was hoped that more would come, especially considering that Lazio had a Champions League to play.
Today was the first official game of the season, the first leg of the Champions League play-off round to qualify for the group stage.
The match
Lazio, needing a big win for an easier second leg, started strongly and in the 4th minute a splendid Goran Pandev free kick forced Bogdan Lobont into a difficult save. In the 16th minute Pandev to Stefano Mauri who crossed into the box for Tommaso Rocchi, Lobont saved again. Two minutes later Edmilson Cribari tried a header that deserved more luck. In doing this however he got injured but Lazio did not have the time to substitute him and the Romanians took the opportunity to score. In the 18th minute Cristian Pulhac crossed from the left, Ionel Danilescu anticipated Massimo Mutarelli and headed the ball past Marco Ballotta. Alexsandar Kolarov was Cribari's replacement and a cross from the Serb was parried by Lobont but the ball fell perfectly for Rocchi who tried a shot, Stefan Radu saved on the line.
Lazio had their foot on the accelerator but could not get a goal. In the 38th minute the referee spotted a handball in the box by Radu off a corner kick and conceded a penalty to the Biancocelesti. Rocchi stepped up and took the spot kick but Lobont saved.
In the second half Dinamo had a chance in the 51st minute when Danilescu gave a good assist to Claudiu Niculescu but his shot was saved into corner by Ballotta. Three minutes later came Lazio’s deserved equaliser. Lorenzo De Silvestri on the right crossed into the box and Mutarelli headed the ball into the net.
Lazio had the chance to score again with Pandev who missed from a favourable position in the 69th minute and then a Cristian Ledesma shot a minute later deflected by Rocchi saw another great save from Lobont.
The Biancocelesti finished the game in nine men since Valon Behrami was sent off for a dangerous foul in the 73rd minute and Mutarelli got a second yellow card three minutes from time. Lucian Goian too got a second yellow in injury time.
It will be a difficult return game for Lazio, but there is still hope.
Who played for Lazio
Ballotta, Scaloni, Stendardo (46’ De Silvestri), Cribari (22’ Kolarov), Zauri, Behrami, Ledesma, Mutarelli, Mauri (65’ Del Nero), Pandev, Rocchi
Substitutes: Berni, Manfredini, Mudingayi, Makinwa
Manager: D. Rossi
Who played for Dinamo București
Lobont, Blay, Radu, Nastase (32' Goian), Pulhac, Cristea, Ropotan, Izvoranu, Zicu (8' Oprita), Niculescu (76' Chacu), Danciulescu
Substitutes: Romanovs, Munteanu, Fernandes, Stoican
Manager: Rednic
Referee: Henning Ovrebo
Goals: 22’ Danciulescu, 53’ Mutarelli
Sources
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