Game 18, Serie A
Friday, December 29, 2023
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Frosinone 3-1
In 105 seconds Lazio turn a match around that looked as if it was gone
The team
Maurizio Sarri did not have a lot of choice since Ciro Immobile, Luis Alberto, Alessio Romagnoli, Nicolò Casale were out injured and Manuel Lazzari suspended. Hence room for Luca Pellegrini, Patric, Mario Gila, Daichi Kamada and Taty Castellanos.
First half
The first 45 minutes was a bit like watching paint dry. The only thing to note was a free kick from Mattia Zaccagni in the 32nd minute from the far left that was saved by Stefano Turati.
The match was relatively fast paced but there were too many errors from both teams. Really poor performance from Felipe Anderson who was quite rightly substituted in the interval by Gustav Isaksen.
Second half
Lazio started the second half with a more lively spirit and in the 47th minute a massive whack from outside the box by Pellegrini went out by a whisker. In the 53rd he had to abandon the pitch due to injury and was substituted by Elseid Hysaj.
In the 56th minute the game changer. A cross into the box following a free kick by Matias Soulé reached Matteo Guendouzi challenged by Simone Romagnoli and Caleb Okoli. The Frenchman had clearly touched the ball with his hand but one of the Frosinone players was tugging at his jersey and another pushing him from behind. VAR called the ref, and penalty to Frosinone. Soulé had no problem scoring from the spot kick.
Lazio disappeared from the match and Frosinone were in complete control. When the Biancocelesti fall behind they always go into a panic and cannot think straight. Sarri at this point sent in Matias Vecino for Kamada in the hope of a long ball from defence to attack.
In the 70th minute Isaksen sent a high ball into the box from the left and Castellanos headed the ball into the net a-la-Vieri in Birmingham.
105 seconds later, Luca Garritano mistakenly passed back to Castellanos who advanced, gave the ball to Isaksen, low, clinical shot, Lazio 2 Frosinone 1.
A massive turnaround. Frosinone had been almost perfect for 70 minutes and now they were behind. They did not have the strength to fight back and Lazio dominated. Manager Eusebio Di Francesco tried to stir his team with three substitutions: Walid Cheddira, Giuseppe Caso, Giorgi Kvernadze for Kaio Jorge, Abdou Harroui and Garritano.
But first, in the 80th minute, Lazio had a goal disallowed for offside and then, four minutes later, scored their third. Corner from the left, Zaccagni crossed into the box, Vecino and Castellanos missed the ball that arrived at Patric's feet on the far post and he hammered it in with his left foot.
Further substitutions for both teams: Sarri sent in Pedro and Danilo Cataldi and took out Zaccagni and Nicolò Rovella. For Frosinone in came Mehdi Bourabia and Marvin Cuni for Marco Brescianini and Soulé.
Just time for two more chances for Lazio. In the 94th minute Isaksen hit the crossbar after a Pedro cross and in the 95th, Castellanos shot at the goalkeeper from a difficult position on a Guendouzi cross.
The Biancocelesti won. Happy New Year to everybody.
Who played for Lazio
Provedel, Marusic, Patric, Gila, Pellegrini (54` Hysaj), Guendouzi, Rovella (85` Cataldi), Kamada (66` Vecino), Felipe Anderson (46` Isaksen), Castellanos, Zaccagni (85` Pedro).
Substitutes: Sepe, Mandas, Casale, Ruggeri, Basic, Sana Fernandes.
Manager: Sarri
Who played for Frosinone
Turati, Monterisi, Okoli, Romagnoli, Gelli, Brescianini (89' Bourabia), Barrenechea, Garritano (79` Kvernadze), Soulé (89' Cuni), Harroui (75` Caso), Kaio Jorge (75` Cheddira).
Substitutes: Frattali, Cerofolini, Lulic, Reinier, Mazzitelli, Lusuardi.
Manager: Di Francesco.
Referee: Feliciani
Goals: 8` Soulé (pen), 65` Castellanos, 67` Isaksen, 84` Patric
Booked: Patric (L), Okoli (F), Barrenechea (F), Isaksen (L), Cataldi (L)
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