March 2, 2019: Lazio Roma 3-0
- Simon Basten
- Mar 2
- 5 min read
Marvellous
Lazio demolish Roma thanks to goals from Caicedo, Immobile and Cataldi
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had been heavily penalised by the introduction of the VAR. The referees took it in turns to not use it when Lazio played or to use it in the wrong way. But Lazio had played well and, as usual, just missed out of Champions League qualification, arriving fifth, losing the decisive match at home against Inter.
The star signings of the summer were Francesco Acerbi, who took the place in the centre of defence left vacant by Stefan De Vrij who had gone to Inter as a free agent refusing to sign a new contract with Lazio, and Joaquin Correa, exciting Argentinian player from Sevilla, who substituted Felipe Anderson sold to West Ham United. Other signings included Riza Durmisi (Betis), Valon Berisha (Salzburg), free agents Silvio Proto and Milan Badelj plus the return of Danilo Cataldi from his loan at Benevento. Also leaving were Davide Di Gennaro (loan to Salernitana), Ivan Vargic (loan, Anorthosis), Nani (end of loan, Valencia), Filip Djordjevic (end of contract) and Luca Crecco (Pescara)
So far, the season had been a little bit disappointing. Lazio were currently sixth, three points away from Roma, fifth, and four behind Milan. Unable to come to terms with the bigger teams, Lazio also occasionally struggled with the smaller ones. The star players such as Luis Alberto and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic were not playing up to par. They were trying to keep the Champions League qualification dream alive, but it would certainly not be easy.
In Europa League Lazio came second in their group behind Eintracht Frankfurt but were knocked out in the round of 32 by Sevilla, also due to being denied an obvious penalty, which could have been a game changer, in the return match. VAR was yet to be introduced for the European competition.
In Coppa Italia, the Biancocelesti had beaten Novara 4-1 in the round of 32, and Inter away on penalties in the quarter final. They had played the first semi-final leg at home against Milan and had drawn 0-0. The return game would take place at the end of April.
The match: Saturday, March 2, 2019, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio were immediately potentially dangerous in the second minute with a shot from Joaquin Correa which went over the crossbar. In the 12th minute the Biancocelesti were quick with a throw in, ball to Correa who flew towards the box and passed to Felipe Caicedo. The Ecuadorian dribbled past Robin Olsen and scored Lazio’s first of the evening.
In the 23rd minute Adam Marusic to Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, ball in the box for Correa who arrived a second too late and Olsen managed to parry. On the counterattack Nicolò Zaniolo to Edin Dzeko who from the edge of the area tried a shot, well saved by Thomas Strakosha.
In the second half after two minutes there was a free kick for Roma. Aleksandar Kolarov sent a ball in the box which was cleared by the defence and Zaniolo tried a volley that went wide. Roma attacked for an equaliser. In the 59th minute a Stephen El Shaarawy shot was parried into corner by Strakosha. The Giallorossi were dangerous in the 67th minute when an Alessandro Florenzi shot from way out changed direction at the last moment but Strakosha saved into corner. From the latter, cross into the box, Dzeko headed towards Javier Pastore whose volley from no more than a couple of meters shaved the post. Incredible chance for the Giallorossi.
In the 71st minute Milinkovic to Ciro Immobile who sent an intelligent no look ball for Correa who flew towards the box and was fouled from behind by Federico Fazio. Penalty for the Biancocelesti and King Ciro made it 2-0.
Lazio’s third looked like something from PlayStation. Marco Parolo to Immobile on the right in front of the penalty area, pass to Milinkovic-Savic who gave it back to Danilo Cataldi. Great curling shot, 3-0 for the Biancocelesti.
Roma got frustrated. Horrible foul by Dzeko on Francesco Acerbi which caused a fight among the players. Kolarov and Stefan Radu were booked as well as the Bosnian. A minute later another foul, this time Kolarov on Immobile and the Serb got his second yellow card. As the former Lazio player was leaving the field, Radu gave him "his best wishes".
Fantastic win, one that will go down in the history books.
Who played for Lazio
Strakosha, Bastos, Acerbi, Radu, Marusic, Milinkovic-Savic, Leiva, Luis Alberto (70’ Parolo), Lulic, Correa (78’ Cataldi), Caicedo (63’ Immobile)
Manager: Inzaghi
Who played for Roma
Olsen, Florenzi, Juan Jesus, Fazio, Kolarov, Cristante, De Rossi (65' Pastore), Pellegrini, Zaniolo (61' Perotti), Dzeko, El Shaarawy (82' Schick)
Substitutes: Mirante, Fuzato, Santon, Marcano, Karsdorp, Coric, Nzonzi, Kluivert
Manager: Di Francesco
Referee: Mazzoleni
Goals: 12’ Caicedo, 73’ Immobile, 89’ Cataldi
What happened next
The Biancocelesti tried to keep the Champions League qualification dream alive for as long as possible, but surprise losses against Genoa and Spal away, plus the disastrous defeat at home against an already relegated Chievo, lessened the impact of great wins in the derby and away against Inter. Lazio effectively gave up after the home defeat against Atalanta with three matches still to go.
In the Europa League they were eliminated by Sevilla in the round of 16.
But there was glory.
In Coppa Italia, a second half goal from Correa in the second away leg against Milan was the passport for the final at the Stadio Olimpico against Atalanta.
Lazio won the final with goals from Milinkovic-Savic and Correa in the second half. Hence, the Biancocelesti qualified for the 2019-20 Europa League and the Supercoppa.
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Francesco Acerbi was the player with most appearances (50 in all competitions), Ciro Immobile the top scorer (19).
Let’s talk about Bruno Jordão
Bruno André Cavaco Jordão, better known as Bruno Jordão, was born on October 12 1998 in Marinha Grande near Leiria in Portugal.
He grew up in the youth sector of União Leiria and debuted in the first team in 2015-16 where he made 23 appearances with 4 goals in the Portuguese third tier. In 2016 he signed for Braga and began playing for the B team.
On August 31, 2017, he signed for Lazio together with his team mate Pedro Neto. His name, the Portuguese translation of former Lazio great Bruno Giordano, immediately created curiosity among the fans. He played his first season for the Primavera but did appear on the bench 20 times during the year. In 2018-19 he debuted and made three appearances.
In 2019 he was sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers and made four appearances. He was then loaned first to Famalicão, then Grasshoppers and Santa Clara, playing rather seldomly. In 2023 he finally went back to Wolves for six months before ending his contract. Since February 2024 he has been playing for Radomiak Radon in Poland.
With Lazio he made little impact but was part of a deal with agent Jorge Mendes that included Pedro Neto.
Lazio Career
Season | Total Serie A appearances |
2018-19 | 3 |
Sources
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