Game 20, Serie A
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Sampdoria 1-0
A Kozak header six minutes from time gives Lazio a deserved win
The 2010-2011 season did not start so well as Lazio were defeated by Sampdoria. From then on however they went on an excellent run and in the following 8 games they won seven and drew only once against Milan. At that point Lazio were top with a 4-point lead. The very controversial loss against Roma, with at least one penalty not given to Lazio, and the bad defeat against Cesena the week after took the Biancocelesti down to second place which they held for some time thanks to wins against Napoli and Inter. The unexpected defeat against Lecce had brought Lazio down to third place.
The match
The match was certainly not vintage as Sampdoria basically stayed back defending as if there was no tomorrow with little interest in doing anything more. Lazio on the other hand were tiring in some of their players and had little energy to create anything dangerous especially in the first half. Just a couple of Hernanes’ shots blocked by the keeper in the 18th and 39th minutes. Another shot from Cristian Ledesma in the 24th minute shaved the post.
In the second half Samp seemed to wake up and in the 51st minute a great ball from Angelo Palombo to Giampaolo Pazzini, who moved faster than Modibo Diakité, ready for the impact in front of Fernando Muslera but his volley went over the crossbar. In the 64th minute another shot from outside the box, this time from Mauro Zarate shaved the post.
In the 77th minute enter Libor Kozak and Alvaro Gonzalez in place of Sergio Floccari and Cristian Brocchi. Great decision.
In the 86th minute free kick on the right for the Biancocelesti. Ledesma crossed the ball, the Samp defence tried to put everybody offside but failed, Kozak all alone in the middle of the penalty area had no problem to head the ball past Gianluca Curci.
Game over.
Who played for Lazio
Muslera, Lichtsteiner, Diakité, Dias, Scaloni, Ledesma, Brocchi (77’ A. Gonzalez), Mauri, Hernanes (90’ Foggia), Zarate, Floccari (77’ Kozak)
Manager: Reja
Who played for Sampdoria
Curci, Dessena, Volta, Accardi, Ziegler, Tissone (67' Poli), Palombo, Koman, Guberti (76' Mannini), Pazzini, Pozzi (71' Macheda)
Substitutes: Da Costa, Cacciatore, Lamorte, Fornaroli
Manager: Di Carlo
Referee: Rizzoli
Goal: 84’ Kozak
Sources
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