Celebration time

Season 2008-09

Game 4, Serie A

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Fiorentina 3-0

On the 50th anniversary of Lazio’s first Coppa Italia win, the Biancocelesti demolish Fiorentina

Lazio started the season beating Benevento in Coppa Italia 5-1. In campionato they had won away at Cagliari and at home against Sampdoria. But the previous week they had been slaughtered by Milan 4-1. Today was game four.

The match

It was 50 years to this day that Lazio won their first trophy, the 1958 Coppa Italia. Before the start of the game, President Claudio Lotito gave three players from that day, captain Bob Lovati, goal scorer Maurilio Prini and defender Franco Janich, a plaque in celebration.

The Biancocelesti started well and in the 8th minute Goran Pandev dribbled past three players and from the left by-line inside the box gave an inviting assist to Mauro Zarate who whacked it over the crossbar. In the 17th minute Pasquale Foggia to Stefano Mauri on the right, low cross in the middle, Zarate dummied, ball to Pandev on the edge of the area and central, powerful strike, Sebastien Frey parried. Felipe Melo had a chance in the 24th minute but his shot went wide from a favourable position. In the 29th minute Zarate was fouled in the box by Dario Dainelli but the referee was looking the other way. The Argentinian tried again in the 31st and 35th minute but in both cases Frey parried easily.

The second half opened with another missed opportunity from Zarate. In the 47th minute splendid assist from Pandev, the Argentinian was face to face with Frey but he shot at the keeper. Two minutes later Cristian Brocchi from the right crossed in the middle, Zarate tried a volley, over the crossbar.

In the 51st minute Lazio deservedly went ahead. Foggia from the left sent a long ball into the box, Zarate from a difficult position tried a header which hit the crossbar. Mauri caught unawares and with his back to the goal went for a bicycle kick and made it 1-0 for the Biancocelesti.

Five minutes later it was 2-0. Zarate tried to dribble past a few Fiorentina players, the ball reached Pandev just inside the box on the right, his clinical shot was impossible to stop.

Lazio on the rampage. In the 59th minute Foggia from the left passed the ball in the middle of the box to Zarate, great shot, great save from Frey. From the subsequent corner, Foggia again from the left sent in a perfect ball for Sebastiano Siviglia. Open goal chance for the Lazio defender who headed the ball in for the 3-0.

Game over, great win for the Biancocelesti.

Who played for Lazio

Carrizo, Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Cribari (85’ Rozenhnal), Radu, Brocchi, Ledesma, Mauri, Foggia (69’ Manfredini), Zarate, Pandev (77’ Makinwa)