Serie A' MD25: Lazio - Reggina [27-02-08]

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 25 - 27/2/08 (19.30 UK)
Lazio - Reggina

Stadio Olimpico

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Lazio are a side in turmoil as they play host to a buoyant Reggina side in a crunch encounter at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Lazio fans are making their displeasure heard and heckled the side at Cagliari Airport after their latest afternoon of ignominy, which saw a 1-0 defeat against the rock-bottom Sardinians. Just as it seemed the Biancocelesti had turned things around with a confident win over Atalanta, they turned in the kind of flaccid performance that has blighted their season.

Coach Delio Rossi has admitted that the pressure is rising, as his side look complete strangers from the team that finished third last term. The capital club cannot afford anything less than a win here if they are to keep their notoriously fiery fans onside. One key to the Aquile’s woes has been ill discipline – they have seen seven red cards and 65 yellows this year. Added to a lengthy injury list, suspensions are proving costly and adding to the disjointed feel of the team.

Reggina are on a high after securing a heroic, albeit fortunate, 2-1 win over Juventus last Saturday.
However, veteran boss Renzo Ulivieri knows all too well that he must harness the momentum and not let his side rest on their laurels. The result may have ended a miserable run, but the Amaranto are still in penultimate place and could quickly be cut adrift.

The Calabrian fans would feel lost without their annual relegation battle, but it remains to be seen whether Ulivieri’s experience is a match for former Coach Walter Mazzarri’s nous. If they are to survive, Reggina must stop trying to pass the ball into the net. They have had the fewest shots on target in the top flight with just 83 – a total that amounts to fewer than three and a half per game.

Reggina had the better of Week 6’s meeting and were unlucky not to take all three points in a 1-1 draw. The Stadio Olimpico is far from a fortress for Lazio, who have been beaten there five times this season, but their visitors are yet to win away and have scored just seven times on their travels.

Rossi is without former Reggina man Fabio Firmani, Luciano Zauri and Massimo Mutarelli. Rolando Bianchi may get a chance to make his mark alongside Tommaso Rocchi.

Reggina have much bigger worries. Last weekend’s goal hero Nicola Amoruso is suspended, which allows Stephen Makinwa to lead the line against the side he left in January. Maurizio Lanzaro is also banned, so Bruno Cirillo is set to drop back to defence. Portuguese stopper Angelo Garcia, midfielder Simone Missiroli and striker Fabio Ceravolo are all injured.

Keep an eye on: Franco Brienza (Reggina) – The midfielder scored against Juventus and has been a driving force since arriving from Palermo in the January transfer window.

Last season: Lazio 0-0 Reggina

Form guide: Lazio (D W L W L) Reggina (L L L L W)


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Lazio (probable): Ballotta; De Silvestri, Siviglia, Cribari, Kolarov; Mudingayi, Ledesma, Manfredini, Mauri; Bianchi, Rocchi

Reggina (probable): Campagnolo; Cirillo, Valdez, Aronica; Alvarez, Barreto, Cascione, Hallfredsson; Vigiani, Brienza, Makinwa

Ref: To follow...

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[D-Kin]

Lazio won 1-0.

Bianchi (pen) with the goal.

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 25 - 27/2/08 (19.30 UK)
Lazio 1 - 0 Reggina
Bianchi pen 44 (L)
Stadio Olimpico

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Rolando Bianchi's first goal in a Lazio jersey gave them a morale-boosting victory over fellow strugglers Reggina.

This had incredibly turned into a relegation dogfight, as the Biancocelesti collapsed 1-0 at 10-man Cagliari, while Reggina had renewed hope after an extremely controversial victory over Juventus. Fabio Firmani, Luciano Zauri and Massimo Mutarelli were sidelined for the home team, but the Amaranto had star striker Nicola Amoruso and defender Maurizio Lanzaro suspended. This meant former Lazio benchwarmer Stephen Makinwa, who only made the move in January, returned to the Olimpico looking to prove a point.

Reggina had only lost one of their last five visits to Lazio in Serie A. Rolando Bianchi got a rare start to rest Tommaso Rocchi, but it was Ousmane Dabo who had the first shot on target after 16 minutes with his long-range effort.

Just before the break Goran Pandev was brought down by Salvatore Aronica. Bianchi coolly converted the penalty to give Lazio the lead and seal his first goal in a Biancocelesti jersey.

Emil Hallfredsson tried to fight back, but Marco Ballotta was equal to his header and right-foot strike.

Straight after the restart Reggina had a good opportunity, but Emanuele Cascione failed to get his header from a corner on target. Moments later both Cascione and Makinwa just missed Hallfredsson's inviting cross from the right.

Rocchi replaced Bianchi and had the chance to double their lead late on when he ran on to Pandev's through ball, but even after skipping past the goalkeeper he was denied by a Valdez goalline clearance.

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Lazio: Ballotta; De Silvestri, Siviglia, Cribari, Radu; Dabo (Mudingayi 60), Ledesma, Manfredini; Meghni (Mauri 57); Pandev, Bianchi (Rocchi 75)

Reggina: Campagnolo; Cirillo, Valdez, Aronica; Alvarez (Barreto 46), Missiroli, Cascione, Costa (Cozza 75); Vigiani (Brienza 56), Hallfredsson; Makinwa

Ref: Saccani

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[D-Kin]

Ulivieri faces Foti wrath Thursday 28 February, 2008

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The pressure is rising on Reggina boss Renzo Ulivieri after a 1-0 defeat against Lazio that enraged Amaranto President Lillo Foti.

The Calabrians lost a crucial game against fellow strugglers Lazio after a debatable penalty award late in the first half.

After an early renaissance under Ulivieri – who replaced Massimo Ficcadenti in November – Reggina have slipped back down the table and there are rumours that a new Coach could be on the cards due to Foti’s evident anger.

“Am I angry or bitter? No, I am genuinely raging because of so many things,” Foti roared after the final whistle.

It is suspected that Foti was angered by Ulivieri’s decision to leave midfielder Franco Brienza on the bench despite his inspirational form and goal against Juventus last Saturday.

However, the under-fire Ulivieri refused to be downcast after the game and was uncharacteristically philosophical in defeat.

“It was a good performance and we were encouraging on the counterattack,” he insisted.

“Against Juventus we probably got more than we deserved and this evening less.

“We should be higher up the table and now things are a bit complicated, but from here we have to view each game like a Final.”

Emanuel Cascione, who nearly found an equaliser at the start of the second half, felt the result was cruel and stressed his belief in Ulivieri.

“I am disappointed at my missed chance, but the ball was wet and it skidded,” he explained.

“There is a deep feeling of regret because we deserved a draw as we had lots of opportunities against a Lazio side that wasn’t at it’s best.

“In the first period we had trouble, but we didn’t come here looking for a 0-0 draw and sadly we let it slip.

“We shouldn’t beat ourselves up as we had a good second half and the boss has my utmost respect.”

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