Inspired Anderson leads Lazio to convincing win

Season 2014-15

Game 25, Serie A

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Mapei Stadium, Reggio Emilia

Sassuolo Lazio 0-3

Felipe Anderson on one of his unplayable days scores and provides assists giving Lazio an easy away victory

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.

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.

The match

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 Danilo 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 Marco 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)