Review: Lazio 3 – 0 Siena. Drubbed??

By: Matthew | November 10th, 2008

What can I say about this game…?? I think the best indication of how this game went is by the words of the Lazio manager Delio Rossi:

“Siena played better than we did in the first half and I fully admit they did not deserve to lose.”

I feel it’s better to hear/read it from the horse’s mouth because otherwise it will just sounds like me moaning about our cursed luck again!

Siena arrived at the Olimpico riding a wave of confidence and, for perhaps the first time this season, being spoilt with a full squad list to choose from. Lazio were rising from a early slump and where riding high again after two consecutive victories.

It was the visitors who started the strongest as Giampaolo’s men seem to have taken his old colleague’s, Delio Rossi, team off guard from the get go. La Robur lined up with Maccarone along side the recently impressive Ghezzal, with Kharja playing in the hole behind them providing the creativity, and it was Ghezzal who was impressive early on with first flashing a shot across the face of goal and then moments after Lazio ‘keeper Carrizo produced a top-draw save to keep out an excellent control and volley from the French-Algerian. Moments later Maccarone fluffed an excellent chance to take the lead as somehow he failed to convert an open header from only a few yards out! Despite the flurry of near misses from i bianconeri, at half time Giampaolo cannot have claimed to have been anything but delighted with the performance. However as is so often the case in football to take home the spoils you need to bury your chances, even if it is just the one solitary chance. It is undeniable that the game was turned on its head with the introduction of Rocchi for the forgettable Meghi. It proved to be a masterstroke for Rossi’s team as Rocchi’s desire to re-establish himself coming back from injury provided an injection of urgency into the Lazio team. However it was left to a wonderful free-kick from Zarate to break the deadlock (somewhat undeservedly) just before the hour. It was Zarate’s first goal in five games after his scintillating start to the season and it was that man again who caused problems for the now deflated Robur defence as he was to set up both of Rocchi’s late goals to put a flattering on the score line.

Now that we have that out the way i feel the best way to address this result is by considering the way that la robur played. We are in the midst of a terrible period of away form, therefore the first half against high flying Lazio was as impressive a performance as I’ve seen from us all season. I bianconeri dominated the first half and looked a side competent to dream of a European place! Maccarone again was full of running, but this season he has been guilty of missing a hatful of chances and really should have done better in this game. I am very happy with the midfield trio of Vergassola, Codrea and Gallopa. The two experienced battlers in the midfield break the game up well and play with bags of energy that allows Galloppa time to use his pace to bring the ball forward and pick out the running from the front three. As I have mentioned before I am growing more fond of Marco Giampaolo by the week and I think he has really fallen on his feet with this team that can boast of such an industrious midfield and a great attacking quartet (including Frick). It is obvious that with some swifter finishing things could have been a lot different yesterday and Siena would have not only been celebrating a famous victory but their first away victory in 13 away matches.

Lazio (4-3-2-1): Carrizo, Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Rozehnal, Kolarov; Dabo 26’st Brocchi), Ledesma, Meghni (1’st Rocchi); Foggia (37’st De Silvestri), Mauri; Zàrate.
Subs: Muslera, Diakitè, Radu, S.Inzaghi.
Coach: D. Rossi.

Siena (4-3-1-2): Curci, Zuniga, Portanova, Rossettini, Del Grosso; Vergassola, Codrea (39’st Calaiò), Galloppa (18’st’ Jarolim); Kharja (18’st’ Frick); Maccarone, Ghezzal.
Subs: Manitta, Moti, Rossi
Coach: Giampaolo

Ref: Brighi

Goals: Zàrate 57′, Rocchi 85′ and 90′

Attendance: 40.000 circa