Game 14, Serie A
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Pescara 3-0
A well deserved win for Lazio after Abruzzesi waste spot kick chance
The season had started with a 4-3 away win at Atalanta followed by a 0-1 home defeat by Juventus and a 1-1 away draw at Chievo Verona. This 6 o' clock evening match was the fourth fixture.
In the first three league games Pescara had drawn 2-2 at home to Napoli, won 3-0 away at Sassuolo (by default for the homeside using a non -listed player) and lost 1-2 at home to Inter.
The two teams therefore both came into this evening's game on 4 points.
The match
The late Saturday afternoon kick off failed to attract a big crowd. A minute's silence was observed in the memory of the President of the Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, who had died the previous day.
Lazio were missing their playmaker Lucas Biglia while Pescara were without Jean-Chrostophe Bahebeck but played with a compact midfield with only Gianluca Caprari up front.
The first big chance fell to former Pescara forward Ciro Immobile. He went past two defenders on the left side of the area but his shot was saved onto the post and into corner by Albani Bizzarri. On the corner Sergej Milinkovic-Savic had a free header but it was parried by Bizzarri and on the rebound Marco Parolo incredibly managed to miss the target, heading over the bar.
Lazio attacked but Pescara defended well and in the 35th minute surprisingly almost took the lead. Caprari went towards the left by-line in the area and just as he crossed he was brought down by Bastos. The referee had no hesitation and pointed to the penalty spot, Memushaj stepped up but hit an awful low effort with his instep which went well wide to Federico Marchetti's left. Lazio let off the hook.
Pescara however took courage and had a Bryan Cristante powerful long range shot parried by Marchetti.
Then Lazio attacked for the rest of the half, the most dangerous effort was a cross/shot by Stefan Radu which took on a threatening high trajectory and hit the crossbar, although Bizzarri probably had it covered. Half time Lazio 0 Pescara 0.
Lazio had been the better team but Pescara were still ruing their golden penalty chance.
During the interval there was only one change as Rei Manaj replaced Ahmad Benali. Then in the 49th Michele Fornasier came on for Norbert Gyömbér.
Lazio had an early opportunity when Stefan de Vrij headed just wide from a Danilo Cataldi freekick. It showed again however that Pescara were vulnerable on high crosses. Lazio started having numerous chances. Senad Lulic put a brilliant low ball through the "Delfini's" defence giving an unmarked Filip Djordjevic a glorious chance but again Bizzarri saved with his feet into corner. Then Felipe Anderson pulled a ball back from the by-line to Parolo but Bizzarri was on top form and tipped the Milanese midfielder's left shot over the bar.
In the 60th minute Inzaghi decided to throw on Keita Balde for Djordjevic and in the 67th Lazio finally and deservedly scored. Keita passed to Felipe Anderson on the right, the Brazilians' chipped cross seemed to be lacking weight but Milinkovic-Savic rose up in the area and towered a powerful header past Bizzarri into the top hand corner. Lazio 1 Pescara 0.
Five minutes later Lazio doubled their lead. A Cataldi corner again from the right was headed in by Radu. Lazio 2 Pescara 0.
Lazio at this point were unstoppable and Pescara were down and out. In the 76th minute the Eagles swooped down on the Dolphins again and made it three. A devastating run by Keita who dribbled his way into the box and squared a low pass to Immobile who smashed it into the roof of the net from close range. Lazio 3 Pescara 0.
Pescara had one last half chance with Caprari but his shot was walled into corner by de Vrij. Final score Lazio 3 Pescara 0.
No dispute over who deserved to win today. Pescara had missed a penalty but Lazio had hit the woodwork twice and had 12 clear goal scoring chances.
The game had also seen the debut of a young Alessandro Murgia, a name to look out for in Lazio's history...
Who played for Lazio
Marchetti, Bastos, de Vrij, Radu, Felipe Anderson (73' Basta), Parolo, Cataldi, Milinkovic-Savic (81' Murgia), Lulic, Immobile, Djordjevic (60' Keita)
Manager: Inzaghi
Who played for Pescara
Bizzarri, Zampano, Gyomber (49' Fornasier), Campagnaro, Biraghi, Cristante (73' Mitrita), Brugman, Memushaj, Benali (46' Manaj), Verre, Caprari
Substitutes: Fiorillo, Crescenzi, Bruno, Zupanovic, Aquilani, Pepe, Vitturini, Pettinari
Manager: Oddo
Referee: Maresca
Goals: 67' Milinkovic-Savic, 72' Radu, 76' Immobile
Sources
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