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Sunday, March 22, 2009

Review : Catania - Lazio 1-0

Catania 4-3-3: Bizzarri, Potenza, Silvestre, Stovini, Capuano, Biaginati, Ledesma (Silvestri), Tedesco, Martinez, Paolucci (Izco), Mascara (Llama).

Lazio 4-4-2: Muslera, Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Cribari, Radu, Foggia, Ledesma, Brocchi (Meghni), Manfredini (Mauri), Pandev (Zarate), Rocchi.

Goals: Paolucci 24'

Cards: Martinez (Catania), Silvestre (Catania), Lichtsteiner (Lazio)

Catania have stunned Lazio to move closer towards the European places after overcoming the Romans at the Massiminio. Delio Rossi's men were left red-faced in Sicily as Walter Zenga's side marched home to another three points as they continue to impress. Paolucci fired the Sicilians in front in the first half, with Pandev fluffing from 12 yards for Lazio.

First Half


Lazio kicked off, and it was the Roman side who threatened early on. Swiss defender Stephan Lichtsteiner saw Tommaso Rocchi make a neat run in behind Catania's defence. The defender whipped in the cross and Rocchi launched himself towards the ball with his toe, but Lorenzo Stovini stuck his boot out to stop the danger.

The early kicks were not too exciting as both teams started rather blandly. It didn't take Catania long to get into their stride though. Giuseppe Mascara's shot from distance was clumsily handled by Pasquale Foggia on the edge of his box. The referee didn't want to hear the protests as he awarded the free-kick. The same Mascara stepped up to whip his strike over the wall. However, the ball had too much pace behind it as it came down behind goal.

Lazio coach Delio Rossi asked his players for a good performance in Sicily during his pre-match press conference. He didn't get it though as a number of chances were spurned. Goran Pandev and Rocchi have been lethal this season, but that was not being reflected during a less than perfect showing from the Roman side. The Macedonian striker turned Stovini inside out before finishing wildly. Chances were at a premium for both sides as the coaches on the bench danced around the touchline in frustration.

Catania did dominate in terms of chances. Rossi's men failed to rouse themselves, and seemed to lack confidence in possession. A lack of accuracy and some lapses in focus saw the away side struggle. Christian Manfredini was the next Lazio player to fall for Mascara's trickery. The Italian went in too hard, and another free-kick went to the Rossoazzurri. Mascara stepped up, but the outcome was the same as his first - the ball was not vicious enough to see Fernando Muslera work.

Lazio's demise continued. The Rome-based outfit were made to pay for their slackness. A quick break saw Catania chew up the Massiminio turf as the opposition struggled to track back. Mascara saw Pablo Ledesma's run down the middle and fed him nicely. The Argentinean midfielder swung wildly from the edge of the box, but his miss turned to gold as it found Michele Paolucci on the back post. The former Atalanta striker needed no second invitation as he powered the ball across the line to give his side a deserved lead.

Second Half

Catania didn't take their foot off the gas as they continued to press their opponents. Paolucci should have doubled his side's lead early on when he was found by Ledesma's quick throughball. However, the Italian blasted the ball over. The Biancocelesti tried to get the ball rolling with Rocchi and Pandev coming to life as the half progressed. The Italian hitman found his striking partner. However, Pandev failed miserably from close range.

Lazio were then handed a lifeline after Matias Silvestre brought down Pandev in the box. The referee had no choice but to awarded the spot kick. It was a clumsy challenge from the Argentinean international. The Macedonian stepped up but his powerful drive down towards the left post was met with the grateful palms of Albano Bizzarri's hands. The goalkeeper guessed right to save his side as Pandev blew it for his.

Despite the miss, the Rome-based side continued to attack as they chased the result, but they were wasteful. Manfredini crossed in for Rocchi and although he met the ball with his head, Bizzarri was there to add to Lazio's frustrations. Catania were left feeling furious after Jorge Martinez was dragged down by Sanchez Cribari in the penalty area. The Brazilian defender took man before ball, but the referee waved play on.

It seems as if just a shade of luck was on Lazio's side as it could have been given. Lazio did carve out chances as they tried desperately to get back into the game, but they were not incisive enough in the final third.

The result sees Catania move further towards the European places, and within a point of the Biancocelesti.

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