Inspired Anderson leads Lazio to convincing win
Felipe Anderson on one of his unplayable days scores and provides assists giving Lazio an easy away victory
Also on this day: March 1, 1987, Lazio Pescara 3-0. An impressive display shows Lazio were promotion material had it not been for the heavy point handicap. Player of the day: Vincenzo Esposito
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished a poor 9th. They had replaced manager Vladimir Petkovic with Edy Reja after 16 matches, so the honeymoon with the Swiss was over but not his legacy (2013 Coppa Italia triumph).
This season Lazio had a new manager in Stefano Pioli. There had also been several changes to the squad, some major, some minor. The biggest buy for Lazio was Dutch central defender Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord) who had impressed at the recent 2014 World Cup. Other good signings were defender Dušan Basta (Udinese) and midfielder Marco Parolo (Parma). Another new face was Serbian striker Filip Djordjevic (Nantes- end of contract) while local lad Danilo Cataldi was back from a loan period (Crotone). In the recent winter session the defender Mauricio had arrived (Sporting Lisbon).
Sadly, some players left, in particular Giuseppe Biava (end of contract) and André Dias (retired). Other minor movements were mainly in attack: Emiliano Alfaro (Liverpool Montevideo- loan), Bryan Perea (Perugia- loan/ he would return in January) and Hélder Postiga (Valencia-end of loan). In the winter session popular Uruguayan midfielder Álvaro "El Tata" Gonzalez had left for Torino.
The first half the season had been a mixed bag but things were now looking up. Lazio had lost three out of the first four matches but then won the next four. They had drawn the derby 2-2 and came into today's game on a three-match winning streak. So far the Biancocelesti had won 13, drawn 4 and lost 7, so on 43 points were in fourth place. A week earlier Lazio had defeated Palermo 2-1 at home.
Holland International de Vrij had confirmed to be a class act and Parolo a reliable, solid club player but Djordjevic had not impressed.
Today's opposition Sassuolo had struggled the previous season and ended up 17th. They had started and finished the season under manager Eusebio Di Francesco (former Roma player) with a brief four match interlude with Alberto Malesani (22nd-26th game).
This year's start had been awful, in the first seven matches the Neroverdi drew 4 and lost 3 (including 7-0 against Inter and 3-2 Lazio). In their eighth game they finally won and things started to improve. They had since beaten Milan away 2-1 and Inter at home 3-1 and drawn away to Roma 2-2. So far the "Watermelon peel" team had won 6, drawn 11 and lost 7 giving them a mid-table position on 29 points. They did however come into today's game with two defeats hanging over them (most recently 2-0 in Naples).
Sassuolo had some interesting players in a Lazio connection: Francesco Acerbi would later play several seasons in Rome and Sergio Floccari was a much appreciated former player. In Domenico Berardi they had a quality striker who would in 2021 (Euro 2020) become European champion. Every summer there was talk of him going to a bigger club but for one reason or another he always stayed in Emilia and he is still there today.
The match: Sunday, March 1, Mapei Stadium, Reggio Emilia
The match started a quarter of an hour later than scheduled in solidarity to Parma players whose club was in financial difficulty as a consequence behind in wage payments.
So the new kick-off time was 15.15 on a typically grey March day in Emilia. Sassuolo play their home matches in nearby Reggio Emilia and don't attract huge crowds, 10,000 turned up this afternoon, but a large proportion from Rome.
Sassuolo had a few absences in defence while Lazio opted for Stefano Mauri as a "falso nueve" (deep lying centre-forward) with Miro Klose initially on the bench.
Lazio started brightly at the Mapei stadium and took control from the early stages. Keita Balde was particularly lively and Mauri was in scintillating form in midfield. The Spaniard, ex-Barcelona cantera boy, Keita had several chances that either went just wide or were well saved by Andrea Consigli. In the 42nd minute he was denied a clear penalty when Consigli challenged him unfairly. The referee however much to the surprise of the crowd, locals included, gestured to play on. To add insult to injury Keita was also booked.
So approaching halftime, after at least five goal scoring moves and a blatant penalty not given, the score was still 0-0. Step up Felipe Anderson, a sensational curling shot from 22 metres by the young Brazilian gave Lazio the lead they deserved in the 45th minute. At the break Sassuolo 0 Lazio 1.
The beginning of the second half finally saw the locals respond with a chance of their own. In the 54th minute Simone Zaza (who had already scored 8 goals this season) combined well with Nicola Sansone and had only Federico Marchetti to beat but the Lazio keeper pulled off an excellent save. Marchetti did well but Zaza should really have done better.
Lazio however continued to dominate. Keita had a goal disallowed for offside and Cataldi had a superb long range left foot effort go close. In the 66th minute Klose replaced Mauri to try and wrap up the match with a proper striker.
It took the German of Polish origin only four minutes to carry out the instructions and that was still after already missing two chances set up by unstoppable Anderson. In the 70th minute yet another Anderson well placed cross was headed in by Miro-Gol finally giving Lazio a double lead.
A Sassuolo comeback, already highly unlikely, now seemed completely out of the question. In fact in the 77th minute Lazio made it three. A Lucas Biglia freekick was followed by a scramble in front of goal and resolved by a Parolo winning shot.
A dominant win by Lazio inspired by flashes of brilliance from young Brazilian Felipe Anderson. The objective of a Champions League place was starting to look like a possibility.
Who played for Sassuolo
Consigli, Gazzola, Bianco (62' Brighi), Acerbi, Biondini, Taider (80' Floccari), Missiroli, Longhi, Berardi, Zaza, Sansone (74' Lazarevic)
Subs: Polito, Pomini, Lodesani, Chibsah, Donis
Manager: Di Francesco
Who played for Lazio
Marchetti, Cavanda, de Vrij, Mauricio, Radu, Cataldi, Biglia (80' Ledesma), Parolo, Felipe Anderson, Mauri (66' Klose), Keita (74' Candreva)
Manager: Pioli
Referee: Russo
Goals: 45' F.Anderson. 70' Klose, 77' Parolo
What happened next
Lazio had an excellent season. A week later they annihilated Fiorentina 4-0 and would then go on to reach eight consecutive victories (Torino, Verona, Cagliari and Empoli). The roll was interrupted by an away defeat at Juventus. There were more wins (Sampdoria and Parma) but also defeats (Inter and Roma) so the Champions League qualification all went down to the last match, away in Naples.
It was a dramatic match to say the least. Lazio needed a draw to clinch third place while Napoli had to win. The first half ended with the Biancocelesti 2-0 up and seemingly in control with goals by Parolo and Candreva.
The second half was a rollercoaster. In the 55th minute Napoli pulled one back with Gonzalo Higuain. In the 62nd minute Lazio were reduced to ten men when Parolo was shown a red card. In the 64th minute Higuain scored again to make it 2-2.
The Napoli faithful smelled blood and the stadium was on fire, things were not looking good for Lazio. A glimmer of hope came in the 70th minute when Napoli too were forced to play in a man less as Faouzi Ghoulam was given his marching orders.
The hope was short lived as in the 76th minute the 'Partenopei' were awarded a penalty probably worth 9 billion Euros. The "Pepita" Higuain stepped up and, to the horror of the locals and relief of the Laziali, blasted the ball over the bar towards Vesuvius.
Lazio regained vigour after being on the brink of disaster. Four minutes after the penalty drama an unlikely hero appeared in the form of Eddy Onazi. In the 80th minute he took advantage of a Napoli mistake and from midfield went straight towards goal and then beat the keeper as he came out. Napoli 2 Lazio 3, an incredible turnaround in the space of a few minutes.
Napoli were distraught and Klose made it 4-2 in the 92nd minute. An incredible night gave Lazio third place and a Champions League preliminary qualification.
The hero was Nigerian Onazi and the Laziale saying "Onazi è l'unico nazi che ci piace " was never as popular. The saying is obvious lost in translation but is a play on words stating that the Nigerian is the only nazi we like.
Lazio finished the season third with 69 points after 21 wins, 6 draws and 11 defeats. Top scorer was Klose with 16 (13 in Serie A).
Lazio also reached the final of Coppa Italia but were defeated 2-1 by Juventus in extra time (after Djordjevic had hit a freakish double post).
Alas Lazio would never get into the Champions League group stage as they were defeated 3-1 on aggregate by Bayer Leverkusen.
As for Sassuolo, the Neroverdi had a decent season finishing 12th. They won 12, drew 13 and lost 13, for 49 points. Their top scorer was Berardi with 15 league goals.
The scudetto was yet again won by Juventus (31st title) while at the other end Cagliari, Cesena and Parma slipped down to Serie B.
Lazio 2015-16
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 38 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 52 |
Coppa Italia | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 2 |
Champions League | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 |
Europa League | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 18 |
Super Coppa | 1 | - | - | 1 | - |
Total | 53 | 22 | 13 | 18 | 73 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League | Europa League | Super Coppa |
Felipe Anderson | 47 | 35 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
Candreva | 44 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 1 |
Parolo | 40 | 31 | - | 2 | 7 | - |
Keita Balde | 39 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 5 | - |
Lulic | 39 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 6 | - |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Europa League |
Candreva | 12 | 10 | - | 2 |
Felipe Anderson | 9 | 7 | - | 2 |
Klose | 8 | 7 | - | 1 |
Matri | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
Parolo | 6 | 3 | - | 3 |
Djordjevic | 6 | 3 | - | 3 |
Let's talk about Luis Pedro Cavanda
Luís Pedro Cavanda was born in Luanda, Angola, on January 2, 1991. His mother is Congolese and his father Angolan but he moved to Belgium at a young age so holds Belgian nationality (plus Congolese citizenship).
Cavanda's youth career started at Standard Liège but in 2007 at the age of sixteen he joined Lazio Primavera (U-19's).
In 2009 he made his first team debut, as a substitute, in an away Europa League game against Levski Sofia in Bulgaria. His first start came in the return match against the Bulgarians.
His Serie A debut came as a substitute away at Sampdoria on August 29, 2010. His first league start was against Milan on September 22. He played well against the likes of Ronaldinho and Ibrahimovic. That season however, under manager Edy Reja he would only make three league appearances.
The following year he was loaned to Torino but again only played three Serie A games.
In 2011-12 he was sent on loan to Bari in Serie B where he got eight league games.
He then returned to Lazio and in 2012-13 under Vladimir Petkovic he played 14 league games, 3 in Coppa Italia and 7 in Europe. He was part of the squad that went down in history beating city rivals Roma in the final of the Coppa Italia, on May 26.
The next season, first under Petkovic and then Reja, Cavanda played 19 league games (with first and only goal vs Chievo), 3 in Coppa Italia and 7 in Europe.
The 2014-15 season would be the Belgian's last with Lazio. He made 16 Serie A appearances plus 2 in Coppa Italia. He closed his Lazio experience after 80 games for the Biancocelesti.
He has since played in Turkey with Trabzonspor (27 games in one year) and Galatasaray (13 games in one year). In 2018 he returned to Standard Liège (49 games in 2 years with 2 goals) and won the Belgian Cup. He is currently playing in Switzerland for Neuchâtel Xamax although he suffered a serious injury early in the season.
At International level he has represented Belgium at Under 18's (10 games), Under 19's (9 games), Under 21's (7 games) and also has 2 full Belgium caps (Andorra and Italy)
Cavanda is a right full-back who can also play in midfield. He has good athleticism and is strong going forward. He played two years in the Lazio youth sector so was considered almost homegrown but never really fulfilled his potential in Rome. He seemed to lack confidence and often went for the easiest option. Whether it was ambition he was missing, continuity or something else, he never broke through to become a reliable, regular player. He had some good games, especially under Petkovic, but will not be remembered as one of the great full-backs at Lazio. In his favour he always had the fanciest and best hairstyle but unfortunately for Cavanda that's not a fan priority.
Lazio career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Europa League | Super Coppa |
2012-13 | 24 | 14 | 3 | 7 | - |
2013-14 | 29 (1) | 19 (1) | 2 | 7 | 1 |
2014-15 | 18 | 16 | 2 | - | - |
Total | 80 (1) | 53 (1) | 10 | 16 | 1 |
Sources
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