Game is over and the final score is Roma 0-1 Lazio. Here is the match report.
2022/2023 Serie A
0-1
Match Report
Lazio striker Felipe Anderson capitalised on a dreadful defensive error to net the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over Roma on Sunday, sending the Aquile above their rivals and into third in Serie A.
Roger Ibanez was robbed of possession inside his own box in the first half, handing Anderson the simplest of tasks to finish past Rui Patricio.
It proved to be the crucial moment of a tense and stilted game in which both sides struggled to create big chances.
Nicolo Zaniolo hit the bar for Roma minutes after they went behind, while Patricio produced an excellent save after the break to stop Anderson from notching a second.
Lazio held on to edge a fraught encounter, where one of Jose Mourinho’s assistants was sent off, and climbed above their rivals in the standings.
The victory came at the perfect time for Maurizio Sarri’s side, who were without injured captain Ciro Immobile and suspended star midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and had lost back-to-back games ahead of the clash.
Although the football wasn’t exactly free-flowing, the off-field efforts were spectacular as both sets of fans produced impressive choreographies before kick-off.
Energised by the raucous atmosphere, Roma made a fast start as Tammy Abraham’s snatched shot tested Ivan Provedel and Nicolo Zaniolo dragged an effort wide.
The Aquile, who were the ‘away’ team for the day, soon settled into a rhythm and eventually made the breakthrough courtesy of a catastrophic error from Ibanez.
The centre-back hesitated on the ball in his own box and was charged down by Pedro, and the loose ball fell into the path of Anderson for a simple finish.
Roma responded well as they instantly went up the other end and struck the bar with their best chance of the half, an effort from Zaniolo dipping onto the woodwork with Provedel sprawling.
Chris Smalling headed wide from a corner as Roma threatened early in the second half, but they then suffered a big blow when captain Lorenzo Pellegrini – the architect of their dangerous set pieces, was forced off with injury.
Lazio had rediscovered the defensive steel that saw them keep six consecutive clean sheets before last weekend’s shock defeat to Salernitana, and batted away cross after cross as the Roma support became more frustrated.
That spilled onto the touchline, where Mourinho’s assistant Salvatore Foti was sent off, and it was Lazio who came closest to a second goal when Anderson’s curling effort required a flying save from Patricio.
Eight minutes of added time gave the Giallorossi hope that a late equaliser could yet be found, but Lazio’s defence held firm to end their rivals’ three-match winning run.
Line-ups
Roma XI: Patricio, Smalling, Cristante, Karsdorp, Pellegrini, Abraham, G. Mancini, Zaniolo, Camara, Ibanez, Nicola Zalewski
Subs: Matic, El Shaarawy, Belotti, Zeki Celik, Eldor Shomurodov, Mile Svilar, Vina, Kumbulla, Pietro Boer, Edoardo Bove, Filippo Tripi, Cristian Volpato
Lazio XI: Pedro, Vecino, Alberto, Anderson, Romagnoli, Lazzari, Marusic, Zaccagni, Ivan Provedel, Cataldi, Nicolò Casale
Subs: Radu, Immobile, Hysaj, Patric, Marius Adamonis, Toma Basic, Luís Maximiano, Marcos Antônio, Dimitrije Kamenovic, Mario Gila, Matteo Cancellieri, Luka Romero