Game 19, Serie A
Sunday, January 7, 2024
Bluenergy Stadium, Udine
Udinese Lazio 1-2
Vecino once more scores the winning goal coming from the bench
The team
Maurizio Sarri opted for the same team as last Sunday with the exception of Gustav Isaksen instead of Felipe Anderson. Alessio Romagnoli started on the bench after a long period of inactivity due to injury.
First half
Udinese started the game very well. Great pressure on the Lazio defence, great physicality. The Biancocelesti, who usually begin games with strong possession, were slightly on the defensive, but slowly put their heads out and in the 9th minute came the first refereeing controversy. On a corner, Isaksen was accidently tripped in the box by Joao Ferreira as he moved towards Nicolò Rovella. Clear penalty for many, but not for Sacchi. One minute later the Dane managed to steal the ball off Thomas Kristiansen but was fouled just outside the box. Red card? Not for the ref, despite the fact that Isaksen would have been one-to-one with the keeper. Free kick for the Biancoclesti anyway, Luca Pellegrini surgically shot on the far post taking advantage of the gap, 1-0 for Lazio. This was his first professional goal.
In the 18th minute Taty Castellanos on the left crossed an interesting ball for Daichi Kamada, but his header was lame.
Not much else happened in the first 45 minutes.
Second half
In the interval Sarri decided to substitute Isaksen, slightly injured, with Felipe Anderson and Kamada, booked, with Matias Vecino. Udinese also made one change: Hassane Kamara for Adam Masina.
The Bianconeri were much more determined than in the first half and were particularly dangerous with Festy Ebosele who in ten minutes got both Maria Gila and Pellegrini booked. In the 51st minute corner for Udinese, the ball went through a crowded area without anybody intervening and reached Roberto Pereyra who had a chance but could not decide how to shoot. In the end his attempt was weak and Gila cleared.
In the 59th minute, a free kick for the hosts. Sandi Lovric, from an angled position, sent in a low ball towards the far post, Walace deflected it as the Lazio defence was completely still, and Udinese equalised.
Sarri and Gabriele Cioffi at this point made some necessary changes: in came Pedro for Mattia Zaccagni, injured, Manuel Lazzari for Pellegrini and Isaac Success for Lorenzo Lucca for the hosts.
Udinese now thought they could win this game because Lazio looked a bit on their knees but the manager then did the Biancocelesti a favour in the 73rd minute taking out Ebosele, best man on the pitch so far, and inserting Kingsley Ehizibue. Two minutes later a long ball from the defensive line by Patric reached Castellanos close to the Bianconeri box, header towards Felipe Anderson who saw that Vecino was approaching, another header towards the Uruguayan who stopped the ball and shot towards the far post, nothing Maduka Okoye could do, Lazio back in front. Another Vecino goal from the bench, just like his other two Serie A goals this season, and assist number six for the Brazilian.
In the 79th minute Felipe Anderson on the counter attack entered the penalty area but his shot went wide.
Udinese made the final substitutions with Florian Thauvin and Keinan Davis for Lovric and Thomas Kristensen and Sarri sent in Romagnoli for Gila. But nothing else happened and Lazio managed to bring back the three points to Rome.
Who played for Udinese
Okoye, Ferreira, Perez, Kristensen (83' Thauvin), Ebosele (75' Ehizibue), Lovric (83' Davis), Walace, Payero, Masina (46' Kamara), Pereyra, Lucca (67' Success).
Substitutes: Silvestri, Padelli, Zarraga, Quina, Tikvic, Camara, Samardzic, Kabasele.
Manager: Cioffi.
Who played for Lazio
Provedel, Marusic, Patric, Gila (86' Romagnoli), Pellegrini (68' Lazzari), Guendouzi, Rovella, Kamada (46' Vecino), Isaksen (46' Felipe Anderson), Castellanos, Zaccagni (68' Pedro).
Substitutes: Sepe, Mandas, Casale, Hysaj, Cataldi, Basic, Sana Fernandes.
Manager: Sarri
Referee: Sacchi
Goals: 12’ Pellegrini, 59’ Wallace, 75’ Vecino
Booked: Kristensen (U), Payero (U), Masina (U), Kamada (L), Ferreira (U), Gila (L), Pellegrini (L), Perez (U)
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