Oxygen for Lazio

Season 2009-10

Game 30, Serie A

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Siena 2-0

Lazio beat Siena 2-0 and start to see light at the end of the tunnel

In the winter market transfer, Lotito made three fundamental signings: defenders Giuseppe Biava from Genoa and André Dias from São Paulo plus centre forward Sergio Floccari from Genoa. Floccari's impact was a breath of fresh air for the team and he scored three goals in his first two matches for the club. Lazio ended the first part of the season in 15th place with a 5-point cushion on the drop zone.

But in the next four games Lazio managed just two draws and were now third from bottom. Bye bye Davide Ballardini, welcome Edy Reja.

In Reja’s first match, Lazio won at Parma but things then precipitated with just one point in the next four games. In the match before today’s, at Cagliari, Lazio managed to win and now had a four-point lead over the relegation zone. Another victory would be vital.

The match

Lazio started very well and scored almost immediately. In the 6th minute Stefano Mauri from the left crossed into the box. Tommaso Rocchi tried a header but missed, the ball got to Stephan Lichtsteiner who was quick to volley it in.

Three minutes later Cristian Brocchi put a great ball into the box but Gianluca Curci anticipated Mauri at the last possible moment. Mauro Zarate also had a chance but his shot was well saved by the Siena goalkeeper. Around the half hour Brocchi to Rocchi all alone in front of Curci but the Lazio centre forward shot at the goalkeeper.

Siena were completely absent from the match. Their first real attempt came with an innocuous Emanuele Calaio header in the 65th minute.

In the 71st minute Julio Cruz substituted Zarate, and ran towards the Siena goal since there was a corner for Lazio. Mauri took the corner, Cruz first headed the ball in the air, then, back to the goal, attempted a bicycle kick. Ball in the far corner and 2-0 for Lazio. A few minutes later Mauri hit the crossbar.

Game over and vital points for Lazio.

Who played for Lazio

Muslera, Kolarov, Stendardo, Radu, Lichtsteiner, Dias, Mauri, Ledesma (90’ Baronio), Brocchi, Rocchi (81’ Foggia), Zarate (71’ Cruz)