A stunning double by Mauro Zarate sent Lazio on their way to picking up maximum points against Bologna. The visitors put up a fight, but it was not enough as the Bianconelesti held on to get their hopes of European football back alive and kicking.
Two excellent goals were the difference between both teams in a highly entertaining clash at the Olimpico on Saturday night. The Rossoblu fought hard, but their finishing was not up to scratch on the night and they were made to pay. The win sees Lazio sneak further towards the Champions League places, while the Emiliani continue to struggle down at the wrong end of the Serie A table. Bologna have failed to win here for the last 12 years. Zarate was like a bus, the goals haven't arrived for 75 days and then two came at once.
First Half
Lazio hadn't won at home for over two months and Bologna came into the match fancying their chances. It was the Rome-based side who began with more intent, Pasquale Foggia's early strike reflected this. However, the left-foot finishing went flying high and wide of the Francesco Antonioli's goal. Delio Rossi has been underfire recently, but he seemed relaxed on the bench as his players began to batter Bologna's goal. A flurry of early chances ensured an entertaining start to the match. It was Foggia who tested Antonioli again with a powerful strike. This time the ball was on target and the goalkeeper needed two attempts to save it. Lazio kept on coming.
Bologna could hardly string a pass together as they struggled to impose themselves on the game. Goran Pandev screamed for a penalty, but appeals were waved away after he was brought down in the box by Manuel Belleri. The challenge was hard, but it wasn't enough to warrant the spot kick. Foggia continued to lead the charge. The winger was outstanding as he took on Salvatore Lanna and cut inside the former Chievo man. He made space for himself to shoot with his right foot, unfortunately for Lazio the effort spun around the wrong side of the far post.
Mauro Zarate began to find his feet and he showed all of his prowess when being fed by Christian Brocchi. The Argentinean hitman turned on a sixpence and struck a curling ball towards the bottom right corner. However, Antonioli was forced to scramble across goal to keep his side from going a goal down. The Emiliani kept on struggling. Both teams cancelled each other out in a display of good defending from the away team and great pressing from Lazio. The Rossoblu's only chance fell to captain Claudio Terzi. A dangerous ball was whipped in from the right Francesco Valiani but Terzi's header was inaccurate and fizzed wide of the mark.
It was always going to take something special to break the deadlock and it was Zarate who provided it for his side. Gabi Mudingayi fouled Pandev on the edge of the box and the referee awarded the free kick. Zarate stepped up and left Antonioli to watch the ball float over his wall and into the net. The keeper hardly moved, he was left struck by the stunning strike. The Argentine scored his first goal since November, and it was his ninth of the season.
Second Half
Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic was not satisfied and it showed. Whatever he said at half time must have worked as his side came out fighting. Sanchez Cribari came in too strong Di Vaio and conceded the free kick. Sergio Volpi stepped up, but his effort was weak and cleared.
Lazio seemed to sit back, Bologna's wholesale substitutions worked as they tried desperately hard to get back into the game. Although Bologna raised their game, they were missing spark in midfield. There was no incisiveness and, more worryingly, nobody to lead by example. Top scorer Di Vaio didn't seem his usual self as he struggled to leave his mark on the game.
As the game moved end to end, it was Lazio who looked more likely to scoring. Zarate should have buried the game when he beat the offside trap to run through. However, his lack of ideas allowed Terzi to narrow the angle and the eventual shot spun off via a wicked deflection. With Bologna chasing the game, the Biancocelesti were just happy to sit back and soak up the pressure. The home side were always dangerous on the break, but they kept on failing in the final third.
With Rossi's men wasting chances, the Rossoblu grew in confidence, but some poor finishing added to frustration as the clock ticked on. Lazio kept on misfiring and coach Rossi took off Pandev and introduced Tommaso Rocchi into the fray. The decision paid off as the former Empoli man played a briliant return pass to Zarate for the striker to grab his and Lazio's second. The Bologna defence stood still as both men worked their magic to kill any hopes the away side had of salvaging a point.
Teams
Lazio 4-4-2: Muslera, De Silvestri, Siviglia, Cribari, Kolarov, Brocchi (Manfredini), Ledesma, Matuzalem (Dabo), Foggia, Pandev (Pandev), Zarate.
Bologna 4-5-1: Antonioli, Belleri, Terzi, Britos, Lanna, Valiani (Mutarelli), Mudingayi, Volpi, Mingazzini, Rodriguez (Marazzina), Di Vaio.
Cards: Mingazzini (Yellow/Bologna), Terzi (Yellow/Bologna), Cribari (Yellow/Bologna), Foggia (Yellow/Lazio)
Goals: Zarate x 2 (Lazio)
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