Sunday 30 November 2008
Atalanta Beat Down lazio 2-0
After a disappointing defeat away to Reggina last Sunday, Atalanta were keen to impress with a concrete performance in front of their home fans. There were no selection worries going into the encounter for Gigi Del Neri’s side.
Lazio, who had started the season in fine fashion, were looking to bounce back after two games without a win and keep in touch with the Champions league places. Delio Rossi opted to start with Mauri in place of Foggia, after the Neapolitan had been suffering from a bout of flu during the week.
First Half
On a wet and dreary afternoon it was Lazio who started the brighter as they looked to gain an early hold on the game.
On 6 minutes Zarate went on a trademark mazy run down the right. The Argentinean skipped past two markers to cross into the box for Rocchi. Unfortunately his assist was not on par with his brilliant run and the cross was cut out by Garics.
Atalanta looked threatening as they attacked down the flanks and after 16 minutes they went close when a delicate chip from Doni found Floccari in the box. To the disappointment of the crowd he headed high over the bar to pose little danger for Carrizo.
Shortly after the half hour mark, a great cut through into the box by Doni put Floccari in on goal from six yards. Rozenhal read brilliantly however to cut out the danger for an Atalanta corner. Had the Czech international not been at his best, the home side would have surely broken the deadlock.
On 36 minutes an incredible run at the Atalanta box by Zarate, left the Argentinean in space to fire from close range. Coppola was very alert as he saved with his leg to stop what would have been a brilliant solo goal.
Lazio had upped the tempo, and Rocchi started to follow Zarate’s lead by dribbling at the Atalanta defence. The danger was eventually dealt with by the Nerazzurri but Lazio were continuing to impose pressure on the opposing backline.
As the whistle blew for half time the away side were surely the happier after posing the most questions in front of goal. It had proved to be a tactical half in which both sides could have broken the deadlock.
Second Half
The sides came out unchanged after the break and it was again the away side in control of possession, as they looked to for an opener.
But on 53 minutes it was the home side who finally opened the scoring. Valdes threaded a pass through to Floccari, who struck first time at Carrizo. The keeper's block fell straight to Valdes who drilled the ball past the Lazio defence into an open net.
The Lazio keeper looked at his team mates in bemusement as the ball appeared to go through the legs of Ledesma on its way in.
Still under shellshock, the Biancocelesti continued to pour forward as they searched for an equaliser. On 63 minutes a searching ball by Ledesma put Rocchi through on goal but Coppola came bursting out and cleared the danger.
On 68 minutes the Lazio back four fell asleep as Floccari was set through for a one on one at Carrizo. The Italian kept his cool to float the ball over the shoulder of the advancing keeper; doubling the home side’s lead to the delight of the crowd.
In the final 15 minutes the home side found themselves deep in their own half as Lazio piled on the pressure. On 83 minutes a searching cross by Rocchi found Zarate in the box ahead of Coppola but the Argentinean could not slot home from a difficult angle.
In the dying minutes Delio Rossi threw on Makinwa, to leave Lazio with four up top still searching for a goal.
The game was becoming increasing stretched but when the whistle blew for full time the home side celebrated an important victory that took them to 10th in the standings.
Delio Rossi will be wondering were it went wrong for his side after a professional first half was followed up by defensive errors after the break. Lazio will be rueing a missed opportunity to move up to 4th.
Goals
54’ Valdes (A)
68’ Floccari (A)
Teams
Lazio (4-3-1-2): Carrizo; Lichtsteiner, Rozenhal, Cribari, Radu; Brocchi (Dabo 67’), Ledesma, C.Manfredini (Foggia 61’);Mauri (Makinwa 84’); Rocchi, Zarate
Atalanta (4-4-1-1): Coppola; Garics, Talamonti, Manfredini, Bellini; Ferreira Pinto, Valdes (De Ascentis 61’), Guarente, Padoin; Doni (Rivalta 91’); Floccari
Referee: Bergonzi
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