Better in second half
After a boring first half, Lazio improve in the second and score with Mauri, Rocchi and Hernanes
Also on this day: September 12, 2004, Sampdoria Lazio 0-1. Di Canio gives Lazio the win in his first Serie A game since his return. Player of the day: Anthony Seric
The season so far
The summer transfer window had seen Lazio as one the protagonists with the signing of Brazilian star Hernanes. A midfielder who can use both feet, he was one of the most important and expensive signings of the Claudio Lotito presidency. Other signings included Javier Garrido (Manchester City), Mark Bresciano (free transfer), Alvaro Gonalez (Nacional) and the return of Libor Kozak from his loan to Brescia.
Leaving Lazio were Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City), Emilson Cribari (Napoli) and Stephen Makinwa (loan to Larissa). Julio Cruz, Simone Inzaghi and Sebastiano Siviglia had all retired, Ousmane Dabo, Roberto Baronio and Thomas Hitzlsperger had not had their contracts renewed.
Today’s game was the second match of the season. In the first Lazio had lost 2-0 to Sampdoria.
The match: Sunday, September 12, 2010, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio back at the Olimpico for the first home game of the season. It was September 12 but it was still hot and playing at 3pm was not the easiest of things. The game was pretty boring. The Biancocelesti did little, Bologna even less. A Stefano Mauri header and an Hernanes shot, both saved comfortably by Emiliano Viviano on one side, and a Marco Di Vaio attempt at scoring the goal of the century but failing epically were the only things of any note in the first half.
The match was much more lively in the second half. Di Vaio headed the ball out from an impossible position following a corner and a magnificent free kick from Hernanes which shaved the outside of the net where the antipasto for what was coming next.
In the 69th minute Cristian Brocchi ran through the Bologna half, ball to Tommaso Rocchi on the left in the box, low cross for Mauri who had a simple tap in to put Lazio ahead. Six minutes later Hernanes received the ball in the opposition’s half just past the halfway line and passed to Mauri who saw Rocchi run in from the left. Splendid flying first touch to the Lazio centre-forward, Viviano was half way out of the goal so Rocchi volleyed a lob over the goalkeeper that fell into the goal. 2-0 for Lazio. A fantastic goal.
In the 78th minute there was a free kick for Bologna. Luca Siligardi crossed into the box; the ball was cleared by the defence but landed exactly where Gaby Mudingayi was, outside the box on the left. The former Lazio player controlled and then whacked the ball towards the goal. Fernando Muslera could do nothing and the Rossoblu reduced the deficit.
Bologna then could even have equalised. Siligardi on the right crossed perfectly for Daniele Papponi all alone at the centre of the Lazio box, but the forward headed the ball over the crossbar.
In the second minute of injury time Lazio made it three. Pasquale Foggia on the right dribbled past a couple of players and passed the ball to Libor Kozak who had a little bit of difficulty stopping it but as he was passing the ball back to Hernanes he was bulldozed by Daniele Portanova. Penalty to Lazio. Hernanes took the spot kick and scored his first goal for his new club.
Game over, a good win for Lazio but there is still work to do.
Who played for Lazio
Muslera, Lichtsteiner, Biava, Dias, Radu, Brocchi (52’ Bresciano), Ledesma, Mauri, Hernanes, Zarate (46’ Kozak), Rocchi (76’ Foggia)
Manager: Reja
Who played for Bologna
Viviano, Esposito, Portanova, Britos, Garics (80' Meggiorini), Perez, Casarini (73' Paponi), Mudingayi, Rubin, Di Vaio, Gimenez (73' Siligardi)
Substitutes: Lupatelli, Moras, Cherubin, Della Rocca
Manager: Malesani
Referee: Giannoccaro
Goals: 69’ Mauri, 75’ Rocchi, 78’ Mudingayi, 92’ Hernanes (pen)
What happened next
After this game Lazio went on an excellent run and in the following 7 games they won six and drew only once against Milan. At that point Lazio were top with a 4-point lead. The very controversial loss against Roma, with at least one penalty not given to Lazio, and the bad defeat against Cesena had dampened enthusiasm. But then the Biancocelesti beat Napoli and later on also Inter. At the end of the first half of the season Lazio were third. They then dropped a place but stayed fourth for most of the second half but the decisive loss at Udine (with Mauro Zarate missing a penalty and Udinese down to 10 men) with two games to go meant that once again Lazio lost out to Udinese on goal difference and arrived 5th. Too many matches that should have been won were lost or drawn (Cesena away, Lecce at home, Cagliari away are just some examples).
In Coppa Italia Lazio went out against Roma in the fourth round.
Hernanes was the player with the most appearances (36 in Serie A and one in Coppa Italia) and with the most goals (11 in Serie A and one in Coppa Italia).
Lazio 2010-11
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 38 | 20 | 6 | 12 | 55 |
Coppa Italia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
Total | 40 | 22 | 6 | 13 | 62 |
Top Five Appearances
Player | Total Appearances | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Hernanes | 37 | 36 | 1 |
Biava | 36 | 35 | 1 |
Muslera | 36 | 36 | 0 |
Zarate | 36 | 35 | 1 |
Ledesma | 35 | 34 | 1 |
Lichtsteiner | 35 | 34 | 1 |
Top Five Goal Scorers
Player | Total Goals | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Hernanes | 12 | 11 | 1 |
Zarate | 9 | 9 | 0 |
Floccari | 8 | 8 | 0 |
Kozak | 7 | 6 | 1 |
Mauri | 6 | 6 | 0 |
Let's talk about Mark Bresciano
Mark Bresciano was born in Melbourne on February 11, 1980. He started his career in the youth teams of Bulleen Lions in the Victoria Premier League. He debuted at just 15 years of age and slowly gained a positive reputation. In his third year he scored 4 goals in 4 games and helped Bulleen to the Victoria League grand finale. In 1997 he played in a tour of the UK with the Australian Under 17s. In 1997 he signed for Carlton, a new team in the Australian National Soccer League. The club managed to reach the finals but were beaten. He stayed for another year and appeared also in the Under 20 and Under 23 national teams. He played in the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship where Australia were knocked out in the first round.
In 1999 he moved to Italy and together with his teammate and friend Vincenzo Grella, signed for Empoli in Serie B. He stayed in Tuscany for three years appearing in 88 games and scoring 19 goals.
In 2002 he moved to Parma in Serie A. He became an important player in Serie A and in four years made 145 appearances with 18 goals. With Parma, in his first two years, he obtained two 5th places and also a UEFA Cup semi-final in 2004-05 losing to CSKA Moscow. In 2006 he was bought by Palermo. He is the first and only Australian to have played for the Islanders. In his first year the Rosanero reached 5th place and a UEFA Cup qualification despite four manager changes. The same position was achieved in his last year too, even though due to injury he did not play much.
In 2010 he signed for Lazio. There was great curiosity and expectation but Bresciano did not really fit in. He played just 23 games with one goal in Coppa Italia. There were lots of players at midfield and the Australian was never able to find playing continuity. In 2011 he signed for UAE side Al-Nasr Dubai and a year after with Al-Gharafa in Qatar, breaching the contract he had with Al-Nasr. He was fined and suspended for four months.
Bresciano played 84 games for Australia. He participated in the 2006 World Cup when Australia were beaten by a controversial penalty against Italy in the round of 16, in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where the Aussies were eliminated in the group phase on goal difference, and in the Brazilian World Cup of 2014.
Since he stopped playing football Bresciano has become a successful entrepreneur, growing medical cannabis.
Bresciano’s stay at Lazio was not memorable and it was a pity because he was a great player. Perhaps he arrived just slightly too late in his career.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
2010-11 | 23 (1) | 20 | 3 (1) |
Sources
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