Game 21, Serie A
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Milan 2-0
Lazio defend stubbornly for long periods and then punish Milan late on
Lazio had so far won 10 (including derby 2-1), drawn 5 and lost 4. The Biancocelesti were in 4th position, on 36 points. Their most recent game had been a 3-0 away win at Chievo.
Milan were reigning champions. In Serie A they were currently in 2nd place on 43 points, one point behind leaders Juventus. The Rossoneri had won 13, drawn 4 (including Lazio 2-2) and lost 3 (including derby 0-1). A week earlier the Diavolo had beaten Cagliari 3-0 at home.
So, a big game today between fourth placed Lazio and second placed Milan. It was a chance for Lazio to get immediate revenge for the recent cup defeat but also for Milan, with a win, to possibly go top of the table (Juventus played Parma away). Lazio had not beaten Milan at home for 14 years, since a 2-1 in February 1998.
The match
It was a freezing and wet Wednesday night in Rome and the pitch was a bit heavy. There were about 35,000 spectators present and the Lazio supporters were extremely disappointed in the recent January market session where the club had been expected to show more ambition but instead had only brought in midfielder Antonio Candreva (Cesena-on loan). The Roman was also said to have A.S Roma sympathies so was not welcomed particularly well...
Lazio were missing defender Modibo Diakité, midfielder Stefano Mauri plus forwards Libor Kozak and at the last minute Miro Klose. The German's absence was particularly worrying and Lazio played with Tommaso Rocchi as solitary striker.
Milan could not select defenders Luca Antonini and Philippe Mexès midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng or forwards Antonio Cassano and Alexandre Pato, all unavailable.
Milan started on the attack. Lazio were extremely aggressive on the Milan ball carriers with Álvaro Gonzalez, Senad Lulic, Hernanes and Francelino Matuzalém dropping back deep to help out in defence.
Milan's first chance came in the 6th minute but Federico Marchetti saved superbly on an Antonio Nocerino header from a Zlatan Ibrahimović cross.
Lazio battled and absorbed the pressure. The Biancocelesti's only opportunities were with long range efforts but Matuzalém was off target and both Lulic and Hernanes' shots were comfortably saved by Christian Abbiati.
El Shaarawy then showed sportsmanship when he went around Marchetti and resisted the temptation to fall into the keeper as many forwards do, he then pushed the ball too far and the opportunity was lost as his shot from a difficult angle was deflected into corner by Abdoulay Konko.
In the 33rd minute Milan went close with Stephan El Shaarawy again set up by Ibrahimovic but Marchetti blocked the danger. In the 38th minute Mark Van Bommel teed up the big Swede but he lost his step just as he was about to shoot. Halftime Lazio 0 Milan 0.
Not a great game so far. Milan were superior but Lazio fought as if their lives depended on it.
The second half started with some controversy. Lazio defender André Dias appeared to handball and the referee pointed to the penalty spot but then changed his mind after speaking to the linesman. The decision was that it was in fact El Shaarawy who had touched the ball with his hand. Big doubts remained.
In the 51st minute Dias was forced off injured and replaced by Lithuanian Marius Stankevicius.
Milan still attacked and Lazio were on the back foot. It was the Biancocelesti however who went close when Konko instead of crossing tried a shot which almost took Abbiati by surprise.
Lazio then had an appeal of their own when Stefan Radu was obstructed by Thiago Silva as he entered the box. Lazio protested furiously but the referee was not interested.
In the 66th minute Allegri decided it was time to change and brought on Urby Emanuelson for Massimo Ambrosini and Clarence Seedorf for El Shaarawy.
Milan continued to push forward with balls arriving in the Lazio area from all angles. Nocerino had a dangerous looking shot walled by the defence and then Ibrahimović had a chance from close range but shot too weakly and Marchetti blocked.
Lazio looked on the ropes but in their toughest moment scored themselves. Gonzalez surged down the right and slid it into the middle where Rocchi let it pass and it reached Hernanes who from a difficult angle, and despite being challenged by Alessandro Nesta, turned and fired it in on the far post. A great goal. Lazio 1 Milan 0.
At this point Allegri went for three strikers and threw on Maxi Lopez for midfielder Van Bommel.
There was suddenly more space in midfield for Lazio to counter. Hernanes shaved the post after being set up by another Rocchi dummy and in the 85th minute the Biancocelesti doubled their lead. This time it was Lulic who charged down towards the left by-line and pulled it back to Rocchi who anticipated the defence on the front post and smashed a left foot past Abbiati. Lazio 2 Milan 0.
In the 88th minute Lazio brought on Antonio Candreva who was whistled by some fans when he replaced Hernanes who instead went off to raucous applause.
Milan continued to pile forward until the end. Ibrahimovic went very close but pulled his low left foot just wide of the far post. In the 92nd minute Rocchi went off to give youngster Antonio Rozzi his Serie A debut but more to break up Milan's rhythm. Lazio resisted the five minutes of added time and clinched a great win. Full time Lazio 2 Milan 0.
A tactical masterpiece by Lazio. They absorbed long periods of pressure with all their players sacrificing themselves for the cause. The Biancocelesti knew the Milanese were superior so defended and bode their time to when they could exploit a few spaces. These punctually materialised late on and Lazio pounced.
Lazio were still 4th but now had a three-point advantage on 5th placed Inter (who had drawn 4-4 at home to Palermo) and seven on 6th placed Roma (who had lost 2-4 at Cagliari).
Milan were still 2nd but now two points behind Juventus and only two ahead of 3rd placed Udinese.
Who played for Lazio
Marchetti, Konko, Biava, Dias (51' Stankevicius), Radu, Matuzalém, Ledesma, Gonzalez, Hernanes (88' Candreva), Lulic, Rocchi (92' Rozzi)
Manager: Reja
Who played for Milan
Abbiati, Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Mesbah, Ambrosini (66' Emanuelson), Van Bommel (78' Maxi Lopez), Nocerino, El Shaarawy (66' Seedorf), Ibrahimovic, Robinho
Substitutes: Amelia, Bonera, Zambrotta
Manager: Allegri
Referee: Damato
Goals: 77' Hernanes, 85' Rocchi
Sources
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