Lazio-Reggina 1-0

Season 2007-08

Game 25, Serie A

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio-Reggina 1-0

A Bianchi penalty on the stroke of halftime gives Biancocelesti three points

Lazio's season had started off well getting into the Champions League proper (Dinamo Bucharest 1-1, 3-1) but then not continued so positively. They had not got through the CL group stage with Olympiakos (1-1, 1-2), Werder Bremen (1-2, 2-1) and Real Madrid (2-2, 1-3).

In Serie A they drew the first three and then got their first win after five matches (Cagliari 3-1). They had lost the first derby 3-2 and the previous week had lost 0-1 in Cagliari. Lazio were currently in joint 12th position, with Torino on 26 points, after 6 wins, 8 draws (including Reggina 0-0 away) and 9 defeats. They had to be careful as the relegation zone was only four points further down.

So far Reggina were in 19th place, on 21 points, but only one from safety (Siena in 17th on 22 points). Reggina came from a surprising 2-1 home win over Juventus. The game against Lazio in September had ended 1-1.

Lazio were expected to win today but it was a potential relegation clash so the visitors, especially after having beaten Juventus, would battle hard.

The match

A crowd of less than 20,000 turned up for this Wednesday 8.30 p.m kick-off.

Lazio were without midfielders Valon Behrami, Luciano Zauri and Massimo Mutarelli all injured.

The visitors were missing defenders Carlos Valdez (injured) and Maurizio Lanzaro (suspended), midfielder Francesco Modesto (injured) plus forwards Nicola Amoruso (suspended) and Fabio Ceravolo (injured).

The atmosphere inside the Olimpico was heavy as the fans were far from pleased with the way the season was going. The fans had already voiced their dissatisfaction with protests at Formello (Lazio's training ground) during the week.

The Amaranto clearly came to Rome to take a draw as their more talented players Franco Brienza and captain Francesco Cozza were both on the bench. Their setup was very physical and defensive.

The game therefore was attack and against defence. The problem was that Lazio attacked but were never dangerous. Without Tommaso Rocchi they lost agility and were predictable and slow up front.

The first half was almost over when Lazio's sterile but constant pressure was rewarded. In the 44th minute, after a cross by Ousmane Dabo and a header by Rolando Bianchi, defender Salvatore Aronica was punished with a penalty for a naive push on Goran Pandev. Bianchi, the former Reggina player who had contributed to their survival the previous year with 18 goals and on his Lazio debut, stepped up and hit a central shot past Andrea Campagnolo who had gone to his left. Lazio 1 Reggina 0.

A deserved halftime lead for Lazio, not so much for chances created but merely for their dogged determination in pushing forward.

For the second half the Reggini replaced defender Pablo Álvarez with midfielder Édgar Barreto. After ten minutes they also put on a more talented and creative player Brienza for Luca Vigiani. In the 57th Lazio took off a poor Mourad Meghni and threw on Stefano Mauri.

The visitors finally started to be more positive. The Amaranto attacked and put Lazio in difficulty. The Biancocelesti tried to remedy this by replacing Dabo with fresh-legged Gaby Mudingayi.

The Calabresi however had several chances to equalise, three with Emmanuel Cascione and one with Stephen Makinwa and became even more attacking oriented in the 74th minute with the introduction of attacking midfielder Cozza for defender Andrea Costa.

The tables had turned from the first half and now it was Reggina almost permanently camped at Lazio's end.

The Biancocelesti did have a big chance when a Stefan Radu effort hit the top of the crossbar but in general, they had to retreat to the trenches in defence of the precious three points.

In the 75th minute Bianchi went off and Tommaso Rocchi came on. The Venetian forward was useful with his speed and ball control to give Lazio some breathing space. He made several good runs and won some extremely welcome freekicks to allow the clock to tick away.

After four minutes of added time the referee finally blew up after more Reggina pressure but no major threats. Final score Lazio 1 Reggina 0.

A hard fought, unspectacular win for Lazio but important for the league table. Reggina probably looked back with regret at having wasted the whole first half with their negative approach.

Lazio were still 12th, on 29 points but more importantly were now six points above the last relegation slot with another five teams in between. No major celebrations tonight but a big sigh of relief for the time being.

Reggina were still 19th, on 21 points but now safety was three points away (Catania on 24 - the Etnei had drawn 1-1 with Milan while Parma and Siena on 25 had defeated Udinese and Empoli both 2-0). Worrying times on the Calabrese side of the straits of Messina.

Who played for Lazio

Ballotta, De Silvestri, Siviglia, Cribari, Radu, Dabo (61' Mudingayi), Ledesma, Manfredini, Meghni (57' Mauri), Pandev, Bianchi (75' Rocchi)