Francesco Totti helps http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lazio-c39775 in the Derby della Capitale
Vincenzo Montella’s AS Roma defeated Edy Reja’s Lazio 2-0 in the Derby della Capitale in the Italian Serie A at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. A second-half brace from Francesco Totti was enough for the Giallorossi to secure all three points, as Montella continued
his unbeaten run in the Serie A. The win has ignited Roma’s chances of a top-four finish and UEFA Champions League qualification.
Roma started with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jeremy-Menez-c18345 started on the wings for the Giallorossi, whereas Daniel De Rossi partnered David Pizarro in
the centre of midfield.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sergio-Floccari-c33061 started as the lone striker for the away side with Brazilian Hernanes playing just behind him. Meanwhile, Mauro Zarate and Giuseppe Sculli provided the attacking edge from the wings.
Roma started the match strongly and should have been ahead in the fifth minute but the hosts were denied the lead after http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Pizarro-c10581’s thunderous strike hit the crossbar. The derby was always expected to be a fierce battle and it showed on the pitch, as
Stephen Lichsteiner and Mirko Vucinic were booked inside the first 20 minutes of the game.
The away side gradually made their way back into the game and their first real chance came in the 33rd minute, when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Hernanes-c16150’ powerful strike went inches wide of the far post. Roma were denied again five minutes from the interval when Juan’s shot
was brilliantly blocked by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cristian-Ledesma-c9543.
The second-half started slowly as both sides looked to keep possession of the ball and were cautious going forward. The away side missed a glorious opportunity in the 65th minute as striker Floccari missed a sitter in front of goal. The Italian
had a superb chance of putting his team ahead with a free header but his effort went wide.
Lazio had to take their chances and the miss proved to be crucial, as Roma scored through veteran Francesco Totti just four minutes later. The forward guided the ball past the Lazio goalkeeper after a splendid pass from Pizarro.
The game got ugly after that as tempers soared and the referee had a lot of decisions to make. Pizarro was booked in the 79th minute for diving. Meanwhile, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fabio-c13152 Simplicio in the 87th minute,
and the away side was down to ten men.
The situation then went from bad to worse, as Ledesma was given his marching orders after he pulled down Simplicio in the box in the dying moments of the match. Totti scored from the resulting penalty and secured the win for the home side.
The Giallorossi are now sixth in the Serie A table with 49 points, while Lazio have conceded fourth spot to Udinese and are currently fifth with 51 points.
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