Lazio get "anti-Roma" point
Lazio end season with a spectacular draw and finish above city rivals again
Also on this day: May 21, 1989, Lazio Fiorentina 1-0. A Rúben Sosa penalty gives Lazio deserved win. Player of the day: Paolo Beruatto
The season so far
Lazio had finished 6th (Europa League) the previous season in Simone Inzaghi's last year as manager. Top scorer as usual was Ciro Immobile with 25 (20 in A). Lazio had also reached the last 16 of the Champions League but lost 2-6 on aggregate to Bayern Munich.
This season Lazio had a new manager, Maurizio Sarri, with a new style of play.
The summer market had seen a few changes. Arriving were defender Elseid Hysaj (free agent), midfielders Toma Bašić (Bordeaux), Felipe Anderson returning (West Ham), Luka Romero (Mallorca), Mattia Zaccagni (Verona) and forward Pedro (Roma…).
Leaving were defender Wesley Hoedt (Southampton-end of loan), Mohamed Fares (Genoa-on loan) midfielders Senad Lulic and Marco Parolo both retiring, Andreas Pereira (Manchester United-end of loan) plus forwards Felipe Caicedo (Genoa) and Joaquín Correa (Inter). In January left defender Denis Vavro (Copenhagen), midfielder Gonzalo Escalante (Alavés-on loan) and disappointing forward Vedat Muriqi (Mallorca-on loan).
So, a welcome return, that of Felipetto Anderson but also some sad goodbyes, legendary Senad Lulic but also popular Marco Parolo and Felipe Caicedo.
The season had been up and down but Lazio were in 5th place after 18 wins (including derby 3-2, Inter 3-1), 9 draws and 10 defeats (including derby 0-3). Lazio were already qualified for the Europa League but needed a point this evening to confirm their position and to finish above Roma.
In the Europa League, Lazio had reached the playoffs for the last 16 but lost to Porto 3-4 on aggregate. In the first group stage, Lazio had won 2 (Lokomotiv Moscow home and away), drawn 3 (Marseille home and away and Galatasaray at home) and lost 1 (Galatasaray away).
In Coppa Italia, Lazio had reached the quarter finals beating Udinese 1-0 at home but then got thrashed 0-4 by Milan away.
So, this evening was all about ending the season well, but especially to get the point needed to come above Roma for the third year running.
Verona had finished 10th the previous season, under manager Ivan Jurić. The games against Lazio had been a win each, both away from home. Top scorer was Antonín Barák with 7 goals (all in A).
This season the manager had been Eusebio Di Francesco, for the first three games, and then, current Lazio, Igor Tudor.
The main novelties to the squad were keeper Lorenzo Montipò (Benevento), defender Nicolò Casale (Empoli-end of loan), midfielder Martin Hongla (Antwerp) plus forwards Gianluca Caprari (Sampdoria), Kevin Lasagna (Udinese) and Giovanni Simeone (Cagliari).
Leaving were defenders Federico Di Marco (Inter-end of loan), Matteo Lovato (Atalanta), Destiny Udogie (Udinese), midfielder Matteo Zaccagni (Lazio), Ebrima Colley (Spezia-on loan) while in February forward Nikola Kalinic left (Hadjuk Split).
Verona had performed reasonably well this season and were in 9th position after 14 wins (including Roma 3-2, Lazio, 4-1, Juventus 2-1, all at home), 10 draws and 13 defeats, on 52 points. Top scorer was Giovanni Simeone with 16 league goals.
In Coppa Italia, the Gialloblu had beaten Catanzaro 3-0 at home but then lost 3-4 at home to Empoli in the round of 32.
So, this evening was a game that had some meaning for Lazio but not much for Verona apart from trying to beat their points record in Serie A.
The match: Saturday, May 21, 2022, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A pleasant and mild May evening brought about 55,000 spectators for this last match of the season.
Lazio were without Ciro Immobile and Luis Alberto while Verona were missing defender Koray Gunter, suspended, plus midfielders Ivan Ilic and Antonin Barak both injured.
The first fifteen minutes were a nightmare for Lazio. Verona pressed high and moved in synchronised perfection and after 14 minutes were two nil up.
In the 6th minute an unmarked Giovanni "Cholito" Simeone headed in a Darko Lazovic cross from the left and in the 14th, Kevin Lasagna scored a brilliant goal with a long range shot which hit both posts before nestling into the net. Lazio 0 Verona 2 and a shock start for the Biancocelesti.
Fortunately for Lazio they pulled one back immediately to give themselves some hope. Mattia Zaccagni fed Felipe Anderson near the left by-line, the Brazilian pulled it back to Jovane Cabral who curled a right shot, with a slight deflection, into the top right-hand corner. Lazio 1 Verona 2. Lazio back in it.
In the 29th minute Lazio equalised. Anderson's initial left footed shot from the edge of the box was walled but if fell straight back to him nicely and this time he beat Alessandro Berardi with his right foot from near the penalty spot. Lazio 2 Verona 2. Half time all square.
Both sides made changes for the second period, Lazio brought on debutant Dimitrije Kamenovic for Luiz Felipe and Verona replaced Federico Ceccherini with Adrien Tameze, after already being forced to substitute injured Boško Šutalo with future Lazio Nicolò Casale on the half hour mark.
Within minutes of the restart the hosts also replaced Zaccagni with Pedro. It was the Spaniard who put Lazio in front in the 62nd minute. He teed up Anderson in front of goal but his shot was stopped by the keeper's foot, Pedro though had followed the move and tapped the ball in. Lazio 3 Verona 2. The turnaround was completed.
Verona however, were not willing to be passive observers of Lazio's local rivalry battle and equalised in the 76th minute. Martin Hongla combined well with Gianluca Caprari and raced into the area where he was anticipated by a sliding tackle, cutting out Thomas Strakosha, the ball then went towards the left by-line where it was passed back to Nongla for an easy finish near the goal line. Lazio 3 Verona 3.
The teams then seemed content with the draw even if Lazio went extremely close to winning it. From a corner Francesco Acerbi rose up and got the header but Berardi stretched to his left and with his fingertips pushed the ball onto the post. Final score, Lazio 3 Verona 3.
Lazio did not finish with a win but were pleased enough. The team then took a lap of honour to thank and say goodbye to the fans after a satisfactory season. There was particular sadness and tears for Lucas Leiva's farewell.
Who played for Lazio
Strakosha, Lazzari, Luiz Felipe (46' Kamenovic), Acerbi, Marusic, Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi (73' Leiva), Basic (79' Akpa Akpro), F. Anderson, Cabral (73' Romero), Zaccagni (48' Pedro)
Manager: Sarri
Who played for Verona
Berardi, Ceccherini (46' Tameze), Coppola, Sutalo (30' Casale), Faraoni, Hongla (85' Dawidowicz), Veloso, Lazovic, Lasagna, Caprari (85' De Paoli), Simeone (70' Bessa)
Substitutes: Chiesa, Montipò, Cancellieri, Frabotta, Retsos, Praszelik
Manager: Tudor
Referee: Colombo
Goals: 6' Simeone, 14' Lasagna, 16' Cabral, 29' F.Anderson, 62' Pedro, 76' Hongla
What happened next
Lazio finished 5th, one point above Roma. The fans were happy for local bragging rights and there was optimism for Sarri's second season. Top scorer was Immobile with 32 goals (27 in A) and also top Serie A scorer.
Verona did not beat their points record but scored the most ever Serie A goals in their history, 65. The Scaligeri finished 9th, on 53 points. Top scorer was Simeone with 17 goals (all in A).
Serie A was won by Milan for the 19th time. Serie B was the next stop for Cagliari, Genoa and Venezia.
Lazio 2021-2022
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 38 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 77 |
Coppa Italia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Europa League | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 10 |
Total | 48 | 21 | 14 | 13 | 88 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Europa League |
Felipe Anderson | 48 | 38 | 2 | 8 |
Milinkovic-Savic | 47 | 37 | 2 | 8 |
Leiva | 45 | 35 | 2 | 8 |
Luis Alberto | 44 | 34 | 2 | 8 |
Cataldi | 42 | 32 | 2 | 8 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Europa League |
Immobile | 39 | 27 | 1 | 4 |
Milinkovic-Savic | 11 | 11 | - | - |
Pedro | 10 | 9 | - | 1 |
Felipe Anderson | 7 | 6 | - | 1 |
Luis Alberto | 5 | 5 | - | - |
Zaccagni | 5 | 4 | - | 1 |
Let's talk about Jovane Cabral
Jovane Cabral was born in Assomada on the island of Sotavento (Cape Verde) on June 14, 1998. He has both Cape Verde nationality and Portuguese.
He started his football with local Grémio Nhágar but at 16 went to Portugal and joined Sporting Lisbon.
After two years in the youth sector and another two with Sporting B (34 league games with 2 goals), in 2018 he joined the first team squad.
He made his debut on October 12 in a Portuguese Cup game. His first goal came on September 1 against Feirense in the league. His long-range goal against Rio Ave on December 3 was voted best Primeira Liga goal of 2018-19. His first year finished with 18 league appearances and 2 goals, 4 games in the domestic cups and 7 in the Europa League with 2 goals (Qarabağ, Vorskla). The "Leões" won both domestic cups and finished 3rd in the league. His teammates included former Lazio, Nani (2017-18), future Lazio keeper, Luis Maximiano (2022-23) plus future stars Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) and Rafinha (Leeds United and Barcelona). In the summer of 2019, he was included in UEFA's list of top 50 most promising youngsters.
In 2019-20, the Covid-19 year, he played 16 league games and scored 6 goals, plus 1 cup game and 3 in Europa League. Sporting finished 4th in the Primeira Liga.
In 2020-21 Sporting won the league and the League Cup. Cabral played 24 league games with 5 goals, 4 games in the domestic cups with 3 goals and 1 game in the Europa League.
In 2021-22 he stayed with Sporting but only until February. In this time, he played 10 league games with 1 goal, 3 in the domestic cups with 1 goal and 3 games in the Europa League.
In February 2020 he joined Lazio on loan. The Biancocelesti needed back up strikers as disappointing Vedat Muriqi had left for Mallorca on loan and they only had Ciro Immobile and Pedro up front. The manager was Maurizio Sarri and Cabral played 3 league games with 1 goal (Verona) and 1 game in the Europa. Lazio finished 5th (EL).
He was not kept on at Lazio and returned to Sporting but only played 4 league games, 5 in the domestic cups and 1 in the Europa League. The Verde e Brancos finished 4th and lost the League Cup final.
In 2023-24 he returned to Italy and joined Salernitana on loan in Serie A. The manager was first Paulo Sousa and then Filippo Inzaghi but the Granata struggled. By January Cabral played 12 league games with 1 goal (Frosinone) and 1 game in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Sampdoria). His teammates included Lazio connection, Antonio Candreva (2012-16)
In January 2024 he joined Olympiakos in Greece on loan but at the same time flew off to the Ivory Coast to take part in the Africa's Cup.
He made his debut in Athens for "Thrilos" (Legend) on April 7 in the game against PAS Lamia.
At international level he has won 10 caps for Cape Verde with 1 goal (Guadalupe). In the recent African Cup, he played 4 games and his nation did well reaching the quarter finals and only losing on penalties to South -Africa.
Cabral is a forward or left winger. His main asset is his speed but he is reasonably skilful too. He has yet to combine both to full effect in order to become a reliable and competitive player.
At Lazio he was not given much of a chance but did not convince sufficiently to be kept on. He started in an away league game at Juventus and scored a useful goal against Verona at home, helping Lazio clinch 5th place ahead of city rivals Roma.
Lazio Career
Season | Total games (goals) | Serie A | Europa League |
2021-22 | 4 (1) | 3 (1) | 1 |
Sources
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