Game 6, Europa League Group D
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Sporting Lisbon 2-0
Lazio beat Sporting Lisbon and thank FC Zurich for beating Vaslui
In the Europa League in the first game of the season Lazio demolished Rabotnicki in the Europa League playoff, but then initially struggled in the group stage with a draw at home against FC Vaslui and losing in Lisbon against Sporting. They then had drawn away to FC Zurich, beaten the Swiss at home but had drawn away to FC Vaslui. Sporting were leading the table on 12 points, Vaslui and Lazio on six, Zurich on two. The Biancocelesti needed to win today and hope that the Romanians did not in order to continue to the knockout phase.
The match
Manager Edy Reja probably did not expect to go through to the next phase and decided to give Miro Klose a rest and put Libor Kozak in the centre of the attack. The tall Czech immediately had a chance in the 4th minute on a Cristian Ledesma cross but his header went high. Dijbril Cissé was fairly active on the right wing and sent in a number of crosses, alas to no effect. In the 23rd minute Sporting tried an attack. Bruno Pereirinha gave an excellent assist to Diego Rubio but his shot missed the target.
The Biancocelesti put their foot on the accelerator. Giuseppe Sculli sent in a good ball from the left for Hernanes but the Sporting Lisbon keeper managed to parry. Kozak missed another chance shortly after on another Sculli initiative but he did not miss in the 42nd minute. Wonderful cross from Senad Lulic and the Czech giant scored Lazio’s first of the evening.
News from Zurich was that Vaslui were drawing 0-0, so Lazio for the moment were through.
In the second half Albano Bizzarri was forced to save a dangerous Valeri Bojinov shot but then the Biancocelesti made it two. Mobido Diakité went on a slalom run in the Portuguese defence and passed to Sculli. 2-0 for Lazio.
The rest of the game was a waiting game listening to what was happening in Zurich. Vaslui lost and Lazio surprisingly went through to the knock stage.
Who played for Lazio
Bizzarri, Cavanda, Diakité, Biava, Lulic, Cana (53’ Gonzalez), Ledesma, Cissé, Hernanes (72’ Zampa), Sculli, Kozak (84’ Klose)
Manager: Reja
Who played for Sporting Lisbon
Marcelo, Pereirinha, Tiago Ilori, Onyewu (76' Joao Mario), Evaldo, Andrè Martins, Andrè Santos, Schaars (69' Danile Carrico), Carrillo, Diego Rubio (64' Insua), Bojinov
Substitutes: Tiago, Bertinho, Ricardo Esgaio
Manager: Domingos Paciencia
Referee: Dean (UK)
Goals: 42’ Kozak, 55’ Sculli
Sources
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