Triumph!!!!

Season 2006-07

Game 15, Serie A

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Roma 3-0

The Biancocelesti destroy the Giallorossi in a memorable derby.

In the first two games of Serie A the Biancocelesti had been unlucky. They had lost to Milan away in the first game but had played well, and they had also lost to Palermo at home in the second. This match had seen the Palermo goalkeeper saving everything, even the impossible. They then had won the next three but in the last four games had only earned two points. Lazio were currently 13th.

The match

The game, as always happens with derbies, was by no means spectacular in the first 40 minutes. Both teams cancelled each other out with Roma having a couple of chances. First Francesco Totti in the 23rd minute with a volley from 40 meters out on the right tried to surprise Angelo Peruzzi but the keeper held steady. Then David Pizzarro tried a shot from outside the box in the 29th minute which Peruzzi parried and Massimo Oddo then avoided a possible tap-in from Simone Perrotta.

Towards the end of the first half, Lazio put their foot on the accelerator. In the 43rd minute Oddo took a corner, Emilson Cribari headed the ball under the crossbar but with a marvellous save Alexander Doni literally clawed the ball from out of the goal. A minute later, Cristian Ledesma from 30 metres out, after having received the ball from Oddo, sent a missile in the top left-hand corner which gave the Biancocelesti the lead. A fantastic shot, a great way to score his first goal for the club. Many old timers have compared this goal to the one Franco Nanni scored in another famous derby of 1972.

Roma were in shock and Lazio made it two early in the second half. Goran Pandev took advantage of a defensive fumble and flew into the box. He tried to lob the ball over Doni who floored him. The referee said play on, but the linesman Ayroldi told him that it was penalty hence a spot kick and red card for the Roma keeper. Then Roberto Rosetti changed his mind and the card was changed to yellow. Oddo made it 2-0 for Lazio.

The Biancocelesti were now playing beautifully and in the 58th minute Stefano Mauri with a wonderfully curling shot shaved the post. Tommaso Rocchi did the same a few minutes later. In the 73rd minute Lazio made it three. Rocchi put a perfect assist for Mauri in the box, Doni came out, the Biancoceleste midfielder chipped the ball over him but it hit the crossbar. Massimo Mutarelli was there ready for the kill and Roma were dead.

Game over. It was Lazio's biggest ever derby win until then.

Who played for Lazio

Peruzzi, Oddo, Siviglia, Cribari, Zauri, Mudingayi, Ledesma, Mutarelli, Mauri (90’ Manfredini), Pandev (72’ Makinwa), Rocchi (84’ Foggia)