CL Qualifying 07-08: Lazio - Dinamo Bucharest

[Daniele]

Rocchiiii!!!!!!!!!! Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiii. 2nd half Lazio ties 1-1. We need to win.

Vola Lazio!!!!!!!!

[Daniele]

Pandev Golllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!! !! 55min 2-1 Lazio

[Daniele]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3-1 LAZIO

[Marcelo]

FT Dinamo Bucuresti [1 - 3] Lazio
27' [1 - 0] F. Bratu
47' [1 - 1] T. Rocchi (pen.)
54' [1 - 2] G. Pandev
66' [1 - 3] T. Rocchi

That is how it finishes.

[Jager]

Ah man! I knew they would do it, and they redeemed themselves from the weekend.

Congrats to ALL Lazio fans.

[sinoy1]

Congrats to them.Awesome to have 2 roman teams in the CL.Now lets hope we can all ( all italian teams ) get out of the group stages!

[Jager]

Rocchi's Lazio in Champions League Tuesday 28 August, 2007

Lazio are in the Champions League after completing an extraordinary comeback in Bucharest, beating Dinamo 3-1 with Tommaso Rocchi’s brace, 4-2 on aggregate.

The situation was dire at half-time, trailing 1-0 and seeming like a shadow of their former selves, but Delio Rossi's small adjustments made a massive difference.

The Biancocelesti could not have asked for a worse lead-up to this crucial match, having drawn the first leg 1-1 in Rome with two men sent off. Both Massimo Mutarelli and Valon Behrami were therefore suspended.

An injury crisis also ruled out Stefano Mauri, Sebastiano Siviglia and Modibo Diakhite, forcing Guglielmo Stendardo and Emilson Cribari to start despite poor fitness conditions. Cribari fractured his cheekbone in the first leg and required 18 metal screws and three plates to stabilise the break, so he played with a protective mask.

The crowd trouble and tension surrounding the Olimpico game also meant Lazio fans were advised not to travel to the Lia Manoliu stadium, although some did make the trip. Surprisingly, captain Niculescu was left on the bench. A minute’s silence before kick-off was held for Sevilla player Antonio Puerta, who died today after a cardiac arrest.

Dinamo had the first chance after 10 minutes when Pulhac’s cross from the left found Bratu unmarked at the back post for a free header that was deflected out for a corner. They went even closer as Danciulescu sprung the offside trap thanks to Stendardo’s error and Marco Ballotta made a fine low save.

However, soon after Dinamo took the lead with a similar move. Bratu found space down the same right flank and sprinted past the not 100 per cent fit Stendardo to smash a fierce shot under the bar. To add insult to injury, Stendardo seemed to suffer a new thigh injury in that move and was replaced by Lionel Scaloni.

The Biancocelesti had a good opportunity, but Simone Del Nero’s cross was too close to the goalkeeper. Cribari closed down a Bratu effort and, despite his facial injury, the defender later nodded a free kick over the bar, but Lazio needed to do a lot more if they were to turn this tie around.

The half-time talk must have worked, along with moving Del Nero out wide to spread the Bucharest defence, as 30 seconds after the restart Nastase tripped the former Brescia midfielder. In the first leg he missed a penalty, but this time Rocchi buried it to draw the tie level 1-1 on the night, 2-2 on aggregate.

Soon after, Danciulescu tried to earn a penalty for the slightest touch from De Silvestri, but the Spanish referee was unconvinced.

Lazio had found their confidence and in the space of nine minutes turned it all around. Rocchi took the defenders away and with a sneaky backheel left Goran Pandev clear. The Macedonian shrugged off his one remaining marker to place an angled drive past Bogdan Lobont.

The game was end to end now, as Bratu pounced on a Scaloni error, though the Argentine dived back in to deflect the shot out for a corner. Christian Manfredini gathered from Del Nero and fired over.

Gaby Mudingayi unleashed a sudden snapshot from almost 30 metres that former Fiorentina goalkeeper Lobont fingertipped out from under the bar.

The Biancocelesti were a completely different squad and Pandev spun round on the edge of the area for a low strike that clipped the base of the upright.

Rocchi sprung the offside trap moments later on Pandev’s through ball and kept his cool to stroke it past Lobont with the inside of his right foot.

Dinamo did have a good chance to open the game again on 78 minutes, but Bratu lost his focus at the crucial moment and was dispossessed in the box.

There were concerns in the closing stages as Cribari – who only underwent surgery for a horrific facial injury less than a fortnight ago – got a knock to the jaw, but he stayed on.


Dinamo Bucharest 1-3 Lazio (2-4 agg)
Scorers: Bratu 26 (D), Rocchi 47, 67 (L), Pandev 54 (L)
Dinamo Bucharest: Lobont; Blay, Nastase, Stefan, Pulhac; Cristea, Margaritescu (Niculescu 59), Ropotan, Oprita (Chiacu 59); Bratu, Danciulescu (Munteanu 72)
Lazio: Ballotta; De Silvestri, Stendardo (Scaloni 34), Cribari, Zauri; Mudingayi, Ledesma, Manfredini; Del Nero (Belleri 86); Rocchi, Pandev (Tare 90)
Ref: Mejuto Gonzalez (Spa)

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[Jager]

Rossi hails Biancocelesti character Tuesday 28 August, 2007

Delio Rossi has praised his Lazio side’s courage and character to fight back against the odds and reach the Champions League.

“I have to thank this squad. I knew I had a fantastic group and even today we had a million problems between injuries and bans, but these lads have character,” said the Coach.

His side is struggling with an injury crisis and lost Guglielmo Stendardo as well during the first half. Despite trailing 1-0 at the break, Tommaso Rocchi and Goran Pandev netted for a 3-1 win at Dinamo Bucharest on the night, qualifying 4-2 on aggregate.

“We changed a few things, as we weren’t moving well off the ball, but the players put a lot of themselves into turning it around. My players have certain characteristics and when there are few options you have to improvise.”

For the second half Simone Del Nero was moved out wide and that seemed to be decisive, as it allowed them to spread the Dinamo defence that had remained untroubled in the opening 45 minutes.

Rocchi got them level from the spot. It was a particularly tense moment, as Rocchi had missed his penalty in the first leg 1-1 draw at the Olimpico.

“It was courageous of Rocchi to take the penalty, De Silvestri also had a great performance. I put my faith in these lads and they are paying me back,” continued Rossi, who is new to European competition as a Coach.

“What do I hope for the future of Lazio? Some serenity. There was a lot of tension in the first half with many debutants and this fiery atmosphere, but slowly we melted that shield and I believe over 180 minutes we were better than Dinamo.”

There were reports just before the game that Lazio had agreed to take Adriano on loan from Inter if they qualified for the Champions League. Rossi did not confirm or deny the rumour.

“If Adriano wants to come here then he has to do so with the right attitude – the same one shared by these players.”

Lazio had not reached the Champions League proper in four years and it is their third entry to this stage of Europe’s premier competition.

This means there are four Italians in the group phase - Inter, Roma, Lazio and holders Milan.

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[Jager]

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Serious accusation labeled at a Romanian player.