Game 31, Serie A
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Napoli 3-1
A week after club legend Giorgio Chinaglia's death Lazio honour him with a spectacular win towards a Champions League place.
The season did not start particularly well with 2 points in the first 3 games, but then it improved. Lazio were currently in 3rd place, so well on target for their Champions League objective. They had won 15, drawn 6 and lost 8. The highlights so far had been beating Roma twice (2-1, 2-1) and Milan (2-0). There had also been some unexpected and heavy defeats (Siena 4-0, Palermo 5-1) and in fact just a week before today's game Lazio had fallen 3-1 at Parma.
The match
A minute’s silence was observed before kick-off in honour of former Lazio striker Giorgio Chinaglia, unsurpassed legend and possibly most important player in their history. Today's team also wore black armbands for "Long John". In the stands there were banners and chants for unforgettable and unique Giorgione.
A crowd of 40,000 was present for this clash with a taste of Europe on a humid Roman evening.
Lazio were without Miro Klose, Senad Lulic and André Dias while Napoli had two absences in Christian Maggio and Juan Zuniga.
Lazio went ahead almost immediately. After 9 minutes, Tommaso Rocchi teed up Antonio Candreva whose not irresistible shot went under Napoli keeper Morgan De Sanctis giving Lazio the lead, 1-0.
At this point Lazio went for a prudent approach and for a defensive game plan. The problem was they were not dangerous on the break, Rocchi at 35 gave them little depth and Hernanes was having an off day. They blocked the wings well but Napoli were dangerous centrally.
Edilson Cavani and Marek Hamsik, in the same move, almost equalised only minutes after Lazio's goal but Federico Marchetti saved twice. Napoli insisted and the leveller came just after the half hour. In the 34th minute, a brilliant Ezequiel Lavezzi back heel freed Goran Pandev in the area and he beat Marchetti. Lazio complained of a Cavani foul on Cristian Ledesma in the build-up but this was pre-VAR and the goal stood, 1-1. Napoli then had a penalty appeal turned down when Lorik Cana blocked Pandev. Half time: Lazio 1 Napoli 1.
For the second half Lazio replaced a subdued Hernanes with "El Tata" Alvaro Gonzalez's fresh legs and dynamism. Napoli started on the front foot and caused Lazio problems especially with "El Pocho" Lavezzi. The game however remained balanced. Pandev was close but failed from close range firing over the bar, Candreva gave De Sanctis a chance to redeem himself with a good save and Rocchi was then denied the tap in by Hugo Campagnaro. Rocchi then had another couple of chances but was unlucky. The teams were evenly matched, it could only be decided by a touch of magic, enter Stefano Mauri.
In the 68th minute, on a Stefan Radu cross from the left, Mauri coordinated himself perfectly and sent an acrobatic left-footed scissor kick into the top hand corner. A superb strike, the sort you try at the beach (and usually miss), probably one of Lazio's most spectacular goals ever. Lazio 2 Napoli 1.
After this stroke of brilliance Napoli's heads slumped a little and just over ten minutes later a defensive blunder finished them off. In the 80th minute a terrible back pass by Görkhan Inler forced Britos to pull down Rocchi in the area. Penalty to Lazio which Ledesma did not miss. Lazio 3 Napoli 1 and final score.
It had been an even match but Mauri's outstanding goal made Lazio deserved winners just for its sheer beauty. Long John would have been pleased with Lazio's spirit and the win but no doubt would say he personally could have done better on Mauri's goal...
An important win for Lazio, now 6 points ahead of Napoli and 7 ahead of Roma. Their biggest rivals for 3rd place (last CL slot) were now Udinese 3 points behind with 7 games to go and with a home fixture against Lazio on April 29.
Who played for Lazio
Marchetti, Konko, Diakité, Biava, Radu, Cana (75' Brocchi), Ledesma, Candreva (90' Scaloni), Hernanes (46' A.Gonzalez), Mauri, Rocchi
Manager: Reja
Who played for Napoli
De Sanctis, Campagnaro, P. Cannavaro, Britos, Aronica (72' Dossena), Dzemaili, Inler, Hamsik, Pandev (79' Vargas), Lavezzi, Cavani
Substitutes: Colombo, Fideleff, Grava, Fernandez, Dezi
Manager: Mazzarri
Referee: Mazzoleni
Goals: 9' Candreva, 34' Pandev, 68' Mauri, 81' Ledesma (pen)
Sources
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