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Serie A Week 18 - 13/1/08 (14.00 UK)
Lazio 1 - 2 Genoa
Mauri 23 (L), Borriello pen 51, 55 (G)
Stadio Olimpico

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Marco Borriello's brace took Genoa to their first win in Rome for 49 years, but it was thanks to an extremely soft penalty.

Both these sides were frankly glad of the Christmas break and had to come out fighting for 2008. Lazio's exit from Europe increased the pressure on Delio Rossi, who had to do without Mobido Diakhite', Mourad Meghni and suspended trio Lorenzo De Silvestri, Sebastiano Siviglia and Cristian Ledesma. Genoa welcomed Domenico Criscito back on loan from Juventus and wanted to build on the 1-0 win over Parma - their first victory since October 7, especially as Lazio were without a celebration in five games.

Gaby Mudingayi pulled up with an injury during the warm-up, so Valon Behrami had to be moved in to right midfield as an emergency measure. It was Genoa who had the first chance when Marco Borriello volleyed on to the side-netting from close range.

The Biancocelesti aimed three shots at the target in the same move, but Goran Pandev, Stefano Mauri and Roberto Baronio couldn't get the ball in. Moments later Marco Ballotta was alert to palm away a Juric angled drive.

Lazio took the lead from a corner kick. Goalkeeper Rubinho's poor clearance fell straight to Mauri for an angled drive from nine yards.

Abdoulay Konko's effort was deflected off target and Giuseppe Sculli wasted a golden opportunity when clear on Ballotta, but Rubinho was having a nightmare and spilled a simple free kick with Luciano Zauri's follow-up charged down.

Tommaso Rocchi was struggling with an ankle problem and limped off just before half-time to make way for Albanian Igli Tare.

Behrami's shot flashed across the face of goal, but the referee awarded an incredibly soft penalty to Genoa. Omar Milanetto seemed to lose his footing as he tried to go round Guglielmo Stendardo. Nonetheless, Borriello sent Ballotta the wrong way with a relaxed spot-kick.

Borriello took that momentum and turned the game around with his 10th goal of the season. Lazio were caught napping, allowing him a totally free header from six yards on Milanetto's free kick.

Lazio were even more furious with referee Stefanini when Pandev fell under a Cesare Bovo challenge and was booked for simulation, but in this case the official appeared to get it right.

There was bad news for Genoa when Julio Cesar Leon went off with a muscular problem.


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Lazio: Ballotta; Scaloni (Del Nero 69), Stendardo, Cribari, Zauri; Behrami (Kolarov 90), Mutarelli, Baronio; Mauri; Pandev, Rocchi (Tare 41)

Genoa: Rubinho; Konko, Bovo, De Rosa, Criscito; Rossi, Milanetto (Masiello 86), Juric; Leon (Paro 67), Borriello, Sculli (Santos 58)

Ref: Stefanini

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