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Lazio Demolish Roma For Derby Day Spoils

Lazio Demolish Roma For Derby Day Spoils
Photo credit to Lazio via Twitter

Serie A

Lazio Demolish Roma For Derby Day Spoils

Goals from Felipe Caicedo, Danilo Cataldi and a penalty from Ciro Immobile helped Lazio win their first home Derby della Capitale since November 2012.

Lazio were the better side in the first half and deservedly took the lead after 12 minutes thanks to a cool finish from Felipe Caicedo.

A penalty from Ciro Immobile midway through the second half doubled Lazio’s advantage.

With two minutes to go, substitute Danilo Cataldi put the icing on the cake for Lazio with a fine curling strike, which helped secure Le Aquile’s first win in four games.

Roma manager Eusebio Di Francesco will be bitterly disappointed with this performance given that his side had won their last four games in all competitions.

They also missed the opportunity to go level on points with Inter in the race for a Champions League spot.

The Giallorossi’s lack of pace in defence cost them, as they suffered only their second defeat in the last 13 Serie A Derby della Capitale.

Caicedo Puts Lazio Ahead

Lazio got off to a bright start and were playing on the front foot in the opening minutes.

Le Aquile’s positive start was rewarded after 12 minutes, as they opened the scoring.

A great through pass from Joaquin Correa set striker Felipe Caicedo in on goal. The Ecuadorian coolly rounded Robin Olsen in the Roma goal and slotted the ball into the net.

On 13 minutes, both sets of fans, players and coaching staff paused to remember the tragic passing of Fiorentina’s captain Davide Astori.

This week marks the first year since the passing of Astori and the Stadio Olimpico rose as one to applaud the defender in his memory.

On 23 minutes, Roma carved out their best opportunity.

Edin Dzeko picked the ball up just outside the box and skipped past Lazio defender Francesco Acerbi.

He then unleashed a decent strike from 15 yards out but it was comfortably saved by Thomas Strakosha in the Lazio goal.

Roma were struggling to get Edin Dzeko into the game and were struggling to carve out any clear cut chances.

Immobile’s Immediate Impact

At the start of the second half, the Giallorossi came close to equalising. Italian midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo unleashed a shot from outside the box, which went just wide.

Roma were beginning to ramp up the pressure, as they searched for an equaliser.

On 66 minutes, they were nearly level.

A great strike from Alessandro Florenzi from 30 yards out was spectacularly tipped over the bar by Strakosha in the Lazio goal.

Just Minutes later, Roma should have been level. A corner swung into the box was headed on by Edin Dzeko, the ball fell to Javier Pastore who sliced his shot just wide when he should have scored.

After 71 minutes, Lazio had the chance to double their lead.

Substitute Ciro Immobile played a ball over the top of the Roma defence. Lazio midfielder Joaquin Correa had too much pace for Roma defender Federico Fazio and was bearing down on goal.

Fazio tripped him inside the penalty box and the referee pointed to the spot.

Upstepped Immobile who smashed the ball past Olsen in the Roma goal to double Lazio’s advantage.

With just two minutes to go, substitute Danilo Cataldi made it three for Lazio.

Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic set up Cataldi who curled a shot beyond Olsen from 20 yards out.

Roma’s misery was further compounded late on as Aleksandar Kolarov was sent off late on for two quick bookings.

Impressive Performance From Lazio

The form book often goes out of the window in derby matches and this was the case in this one.

Lazio hadn’t won in their last four games, losing three of them.

However, they put on a fantastic performance to beat their bitter rivals. Defensively they were solid and nullified Roma’s attacking threat.

Roma striker Edin Dzeko struggled to get into the game, as they struggled to create clear cut chances.

Despite, talisman Ciro Immobile only fit enough for the bench, Felipe Caicedo was a more than adequate replacement and showed great composure for Lazio’s opener.

Overall this was a huge win for Lazio who have struggled against the teams above them this season.

It helps them close the gap and keep their Champions League hopes alive.

However, Lazio boss Simeone Inzaghi will know they need to perform like this on a consistent basis to have any chance of making the Champions League.

Defensive Problems For Roma

This was a bitterly disappointing night for Roma. Having won their last four games in all competitions, confidence would have been high.

However, they simply didn’t get going and struggled to create anything in the first half.

They were better after the break and had a good spell of pressure at the start of the second half.

Javier Pastore and Edin Dzeko both came close to an equaliser. But Roma’s achilles heel has been the lack of pace in defence.

Lazio were able to exploit this and it led to their penalty, as Joquin Correa sped past Fabio Fazio and was eventually tripped inside the box by the Argentine defender.

Roma will be desparately hoping that star defender Kostas Manolas gets back to full fitness soon, having missed the Derby della Capitale with an ankle injury.

This is a big week ahead for Eusebio Di Francesco’s side, with Porto to come in the Champions League.

He will be hoping their lack of pace in defence doesn’t come back to haunt them once again.

Next up for Lazio is a trip to Florence to face Fiorentina in Serie A.

 

Photo credit to Lazio via Twitter

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