Lazio ran out winners for the first time in seven games after a first half Foggia goal was followed by a belter from Kolarov leaving Lecce in trouble at the bottom.
Pre-Match And Team News
Both sides were desperate to record a victory after enduring difficult times in recent weeks. Lecce were looking to edge away from the looming drop zone a mere three points behind. Lazio welcomed the return of Christian Ledesma after he made a lightning recovery from injury.
First Half
Less than a minute after kick off Lecce had already broken through the Lazio backline. Cacia found himself open to shoot within the box, but his powerful effort came clattering off the post. Delio Rossi’s men looked stunned after narrowly escaping from a nightmare start.
On 7 minutes it was Lazio’s turn to hit the woodwork following a wonderful attempt by Zarate. A neat one-two on the edge of the box with Pandev was finished off with a delightful floated shot over an air-bound Benussi. To the disarray of the Argentinian, the ball smashed the crossbar and was subsequently cleared to safety.
Less than three minutes later the away side took the lead with a wonderful volleyed effort from Pasquale Foggia. After moving well down the right, Lichtsteiner had put an inviting ball towards the edge of the box which the Neapolitan winger struck sweetly on the volley. On the way the ball took a huge deflection off Stendardo, leaving Benussi wrong footed on the goal line.
Lazio thought they had doubled their lead on 17 minutes when Pandev rippled the net with a header from close range. After a clever ball over the top was cut back into the box by Brocchi, Pandev was unjustifiably judged to be in an offside position as he headed past Benussi. Lazio were threatening with their slick counter-attacking play and the home side were feeling the pressure.
On 28 minutes Lecce could have levelled the scoring after hitting the woodwork once more. A lost ball inside the Lazio box was picked up by Tiribocchi. The ‘TIR’ spun his marker and produced a powerful drive past Muslera, but once more it was the post that saved Lazio’s blushes and denied the Salentini a great goal.
At half time the home side will have felt aggrieved not to have found the net but Lazio were worth their lead after taking more of the initiative going forward.
Second Half
Just five minutes into the re-start Lazio doubled their lead in spectacular fashion. Aleksander Kolarov flew down the left flank at pace and after cutting in past his marker, the Serb unleashed a bullet into the top right hand corner, leaving Benussi with no chance of making contact. It was a trademark attempt that gifted the Biancocelesti a commanding lead.
Lazio continued to press forward and were a constant threat going forward. Beretta’s men found it increasingly difficult to respond as the midfield trio of Matuzalem, Brocchi and Ledesma continued to boss the middle of the park.
As the game wore on Lecce endeavoured to press forward, but they did so with little conviction, and Muslera was rarely threatened between the sticks.
Delio Rossi’s men were displaying the confidence of a side in control as they passed the ball around from front to back in a bid to maintain possession for sustained periods and ease the pressure on the backline.
Lazio had the chance to make it 3-0 with ten minutes remaining when Foggia was set through into the box by Lichtsteiner. The Neapolitan produced a clever curled attempt towards the far post but Benussi did well to parry the danger and deny Lazio a third.
The home side were reduced to ten men in the final minutes after Cacia was stretched off following a heavy challenge. With no substitutes remaining Lecce had to grit their teeth and see out the game a man down.
As the whistle blew for time, Lazio celebrated their first win in seven league games and a performance that demonstrated far more than in recent weeks. Lecce were thrown into further misery as they moved into the drop zone.
TEAMS
Lecce (4-3-1-2): Benussi; Polenghi (Basta 56’), Stendardo, Fabiano, Giuliatto (Munari 68’); Edinho, Caserta, Ariatti; Giacomazzi (Vives 45’); Cacia, Tiribocchi
Lazio (4-3-1-2): Muslera; Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Cribari, Kolarov; Brocchi, Ledesma, Matuzalem (Dabo 91’); Foggia; Zarate (Rocchi 72’), Pandev
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni
GOALS
11’ Foggia (Lazio)
50’ Kolarov (Lazio)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment