Deceiving scoreline but good win
After an awful first half Lazio score three goals including a late Rocchi brace
Also on this day: November 9, 1969: Lazio Vicenza 1-0. An evenly balanced game is decided by Massa on the brink of halftime. Player of the day: Michelangelo Sulfaro
The season so far
Lazio had finished 12th the previous season under Delio Rossi. A disappointing campaign, the highlight being beating Roma 3-2 in March with a 92nd minute Valon Behrami winner. In the Coppa Italia they had reached the semi-finals but lost to Inter 0-2 on aggregate.
This season Rossi was still in charge and the main new players were: keeper Juan Pablo Carrizo (finally... from River Plate), defender Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lille), midfielders Cristian Brocchi (Milan), Pasquale Foggia (Cagliari-end of loan), Francelino Matuzalém (Real Zaragoza-on loan) plus forwards Mauro Zárate (Al-Saad-on loan) and Libor Kozak (Opava).
Leaving were popular keeper Marco Ballotta (Calcara Samoggia), defender Luciano Zauri (Fiorentina-on loan), midfielders Valon Behrami (West-Ham United), Gaby Mudingayi (Bologna), Roberto Baronio (Brescia-on loan) plus strikers Rolando Bianchi (Manchester City-end of loan) and Igli Tare (retiring but he would be back in another role).
Lazio had started their season on August 23 in the Coppa Italia defeating Benevento 5-1 at the Olimpico and had since beat Atalanta 2-0 at home to set up an away trip to Milan in the last 16 on December 3.
In Serie A, Lazio had so far played 10 games and were in 5th position on 19 points. Lazio had won 5, drawn 2 and lost 3 but came from two consecutive wins.
Siena had finished 13th the previous season, first under Andrea Mandorlini (1-12) and then Mario Beretta (13-38). Both games against Lazio had ended up 1-1. Top scorer was Massimo Maccarone with 14 goals (13 in A).
This season the manager was Marco Giampaolo. The transfer market had brought some new players: goalkeeper Gianluca Curci (Roma), midfielder Juan Camilo Zúñiga (Atlético Nacional) plus forwards Emanuele Calaiò (Napoli) and Abdel kader Ghezzal (Crotone).
Leaving were keeper Alex Manninger (Juventus), defenders Paolo De Ceglie (Juventus), Simone Loria (Roma), midfielder Tomas Locatelli (Mantova) and forward Enrico Chiesa (Figline).
Siena's season had started in the Coppa Italia beating Albinoleffe 4-0 at home but then the Robur had lost 0-2 at home to Empoli and were out.
In Serie A the Bianconeri were in 12th position, on 12 points. They had won 3 (including Roma and Fiorentina, both 1-0 at home), drawn 3 and lost 4. Their most recent match had been the victory in the Tuscan derby against "La Viola".
Lazio were favourites today but Siena were a decent team and had often caused them problems in the past.
The match: Sunday, November 9, 2008, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A grey November day saw about 30,000 gather for this Sunday afternoon game.
Lazio had Goran Pandev suspended. Cristian Brocchi and Stefan Radu were one booking away from a suspension too and they were on the bench. The next game was the derby and Tommaso Rocchi also started from the bench.
Siena were missing defender/midfielder Juan Camilo Zúñiga.
The first half was all Siena, with Lazio putting on their worst display of the season so far. Lazio with no real centre-forward struggled and were unable to get a shot on target. The Tuscans on the other hand had several chances.
The Bianconeri, today playing in red, had their first chance after four minutes when Abdel Kader Ghezzal shaved the post with a low left footed effort. Then the Argentine keeper Juan Pablo Carrizo brilliantly denied the Siena forward when he dived to his left to tip a volley away from the top hand corner.
In the 10th minute Massimo Maccarone missed a colossal opportunity when from a corner the ball reached him on the far-left post but he managed to put the seemingly easy tap-in wide. "Big Mac" then saw a header whistle past the right post.
After dominating the first twenty minutes Siena eased off and seemed to adapt to Lazio's low and sluggish level. Halftime Lazio 0 Siena 0.
The Biancocelesti had not turned up yet while Siena had started well but had lacked the conviction to insist and been dragged down to Lazio’s mediocrity.
Their tactical setup was clearly not working so for the second period they replaced Mourad Meghni with striker Tommaso Rocchi.
Lazio immediately looked more interested. In the 53rd minute from a corner David Rozehnal had a free shot but he pulled it wide.
In the 58th minute Lazio took the lead. On a freekick from the right of the box Mauro Zarate curled a superb shot round the wall and into the top right-hand corner. Lazio 1 Siena 0.
The visitors responded to the set back by replacing Daniele Galloppa and Houssine Kharja (both ex Roma) with Lukáš Jarolim and Mario Frick. Three forwards on the field now to go for the equaliser.
Siena then had a freekick of their own but Maccarone's shot was central and blocked by Carrizo. Simone Vergassola was then dangerous when inside the area on the right he crossed low into the goal mouth but Sebastiano Siviglia lunged and anticipated Ghezzal.
In the 71st minute Lazio made a second substitution bringing on Cristian Brocchi for Ousmane Dabo. In the 83rd the Biancocelesti buttoned up more putting defender Lorenzo De Silvestri on for attacking midfielder Pasquale Foggia.
In the 85th minute "Robur" played their last card and threw on another striker Emanuele Calaiò for midfielder Paul Codrea.
Their plan failed as a minute later Lazio scored their second. A perfect low cross by Zarate from the left found Rocchi in front of goal, the Venetian anticipated his marker and lunging forward put a low shot past Gianluca Curci from close range. Lazio 2 Siena 0.
Siena were down but not out and almost pulled one back when Calaiò cut inside Siviglia inside the area on the right and shot with his left foot from close range but it was central and Carrizo parried.
In 94th minute Lazio piled on more misery on the Tuscans. Zarate beat several defenders and burst into the area on the right where he fired off a powerful shot which was parried by Curci, it came out to Stephan Lichtsteiner who hammered another shot but again it was saved but only as far as the Swiss defender who squared it across to Rocchi who had one of the easiest goals of his career as he tapped it in with his left foot. Lazio 3 Siena 0.
An exaggerated score line compared to what the 90 minutes had shown. Lazio however had improved after a dismal first half and deserved the win. Man of the match was Zarate who, once he teamed up with Rocchi, became unstoppable.
A harsh result for Siena but they had lacked luck and then courage to take advantage of Lazio's hesitant start.
Lazio moved up to 4th on 22 points, fourteen above Roma and only two off leaders Inter. Siena were now joint 12th with Lecce on 12 points.
Who played for Lazio
Carrizo, Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Rozehnal, Kolarov, Dabo (71' Brocchi), Ledesma, Meghni (46' Rocchi), Foggia (83' De Silvestri), Mauri, Zarate
Manager: D. Rossi
Who played for Siena
Curci, Zuniga, Rossettini, Portanova, Del Grosso, Codrea (85' Calaiò), Vergassola, Galloppa (63' Jarolim), Kharja (63' Frick), Ghezzal, Maccarone
Substitutes: Manitta, Moti, Coppola, Rossi
Manager: Giampaolo
Referee: Brighi
Goals: 58' Zarate, 86' Rocchi, 94' Rocchi
What happened next
Lazio then lost the derby 0-1 and had an up and down season and finished 10th in Serie A. The highlight was beating Roma 4-2 in the second derby in April. In late January a disappointing Carrizo lost his place to Muslera. Top scorer was Zárate with 16 goals (13 in A).
Things definitely went better in the Coppa Italia. In the last 16, on December 3, Lazio surprisingly won 2-1 away (a.e.t) at Milan with goals by Zarate (pen) and Pandev.
On January 22, in the quarter finals, Lazio beat Torino 3-1, coming from behind with goals by Pandev, Mauri and Rocchi.
Then came the double-legged semi-final against Juventus. In Rome, in March, Lazio won 2-1 again coming from behind with Pandev and Rocchi. Lazio then also won in Turin with goals by Zárate and Kolarov while Del Piero pulled one back for the Zebras. Lazio were in the final.
On May 13 Lazio faced Sampdoria in Rome (Olimpico is now the fixed final venue). A hard-fought game ended up 1-1 with goals by Zárate and Pazzini. The penalty shootout went Lazio's way after seven penalties, Muslera saving two and Ousmane Dabo firing home the winning spot kick. Lazio 7 Sampdoria 6. Lazio won their 5th cup and it was a fitting end to Delio Rossi's positive reign with the Biancocelesti. Next up was the Supercoppa against Inter, in August in Beijing, but that's another story.
Siena finished 14th. The Bianconeri won 12 (including Lazio 2-0), drew 8 and lost 18. Top scorer was "Big Mac" Maccarone with 10 goals (9 in A).
In Serie A the winners were José Mourinho's Inter while at the other end Lecce, Reggina and Torino slipped down to Serie B. Reggina have never made it back since.
Lazio 2008-09
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 38 | 15 | 5 | 18 | 48 |
Coppa Italia | 7 | 6 | 1 | - | 17 |
Total | 45 | 21 | 6 | 18 | 63 |
Top five appearances (complete player statistics)
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
41 | 34 | 7 | |
41 | 36 | 5 | |
40 | 33 | 7 | |
39 | 33 | 6 | |
37 | 31 | 6 |
Top goal scorers (complete player statistics)
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Mauro Zarate | 16 | 13 | 3 |
Goran Pandev | 15 | 9 | 6 |
11 | 9 | 2 |
Let's talk about Tommaso Rocchi
Tommaso Rocchi was one of the first players signed by President Claudio Lotito and became a club legend winning two trophies.
Rocchi was born in Venice on September 19, 1977. He started his career in the Venezia youth teams but once he turned 16 he moved to Juventus. With the Bianconeri he won the Primavera Championship 1993-94 and the year after he was included in the first team squad but he never played.
He was loaned to Pro Patria in Serie C2 in 1996 and stayed a year playing regularly (26 appearances with 6 goals).
For the 1997-98 season he moved up to C1 with Fermana but after a few months left for Saronno in C1 where he scored 10 goals.
In 1998 he signed with Como in C1 where he stayed for two years appearing in 69 games and scoring 25 goals.
The next year he signed for Treviso in Serie B and despite a good contribution of 8 goals could not avoid them from relegation to Serie C.
He was however spotted by Empoli who signed him for the 2001-02 season in Serie B. His 11 goals contributed to the Azzurri's promotion and he stayed in Tuscany for another two years in Serie A. He switched from being at the centre of the attack to helping out his attacking partner but still was able to score 17 goals in Serie A including a hat-trick against Juventus.
In August 2004 he signed for Lazio. He stayed in Rome eight and a half years, becoming a fan favourite and captain. He took Lazio to an incredible Champions League qualification in 2006-07, a Coppa Italia triumph in 2009 and a Super Coppa victory against Inter, who would go on to win the "triplete" (scudetto, Coppa Italia and Champions League).
It was a Lazio that was in a reconstruction phase following the disastrous financial situation of the early 2000s. President Claudio Lotito was in charge and Rocchi became a point of reference for the team and the club. He formed a marvellous attacking partnership with Goran Pandev. Rocchi is not particularly tall (1.77 metres) but was very fast, had a great sense of position and even gave a hand in defence.
He played 293 games for Lazio (244 in Serie A, 20 in Coppa Italia, 8 in Champions League, 17 in Europa League, 3 in the Intertoto Cup and one Super Coppa Final) and scored 105 goals (82 in Serie A, 10 in Coppa Italia, 4 in Champions League, 7 in Europa League, 1 in Intertoto and 1 in the Super Coppa).
In January 2013 he signed for Inter for six months where he scored 3 league goals and in November moved to Padova in Serie B for the rest of the season and scored 5 goals. His last two years of active football were played in Hungary first with Haladas in the top flight and then with Tatabánya in the third flight. He then retired in 2016.
Rocchi earned three caps for Italy and also played in the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 scoring in the second game against South Korea before an injury took him out of the competition.
In the summer of 2016 he started his career as a manager with Lazio youth teams and also did a little punditry for Lazio Style Radio. He is currently manager of the under 14s.
Tommaso Rocchi is one of Lazio’s greats. He is in sixth place for the most goals scored for the club, sixth for goals in the Italian championships and fourth for goals in Serie A behind Ciro Immobile, Silvio Piola, Beppe Signori and above Giorgio Chinaglia. Great company to be in.
Lazio Career
Season | Total games (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League | Europa League | Intertoto Cup | Super Coppa |
2004-05 | 41 (17) | 35 (13) | 1 (2) | - | 5 (2) | - | - |
2005-06 | 41 (17) | 37 (16) | 1 | - | - | 3 (1) | - |
2006-07 | 39 (19) | 36 (16) | 3 (3) | - | - | - | - |
2007-08 | 48 (19) | 36 (14) | 4 (1) | 8 (4) | - | - | - |
2008-09 | 32 (11) | 27 (9) | 5 (2) | - | - | - | - |
2009-10 | 40 (10) | 32 (6) | 2 (1) | - | 5 (2) | - | 1 (1) |
2010-11 | 20 (3) | 18 (3) | 2 | - | - | - | - |
2011-12 | 29 (9) | 20 (5) | 2 (1) | - | 7 (3) | - | - |
2012-Jan 2013 | 3 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - |
Total | 293 (105) | 244 (82) | 20 (10) | 8 (4) | 17 (7) | 3 (1) | 1 (1) |
Sources
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