Fiorentina vs Lazio: Post Match Review
Fiorentina vs Lazio: First Half
Ciro Immobile ended Lazio’s recent away struggles and made himself the fourth highest scorer in the club’s Serie A history with a late winner at Fiorentina on Sunday. The Biancocelesti were winless in three on the road, but Immobile ensured that’s where their problems stopped with his 77th goal for the club, drawing him level with Giorgio Chinaglia and sealing a 2-1 win. Energetic midfielder Gaetano Castrovilli got the home side off to a good start, the youngster taking an excellent touch outside the box to allow space for a shot. His curling effort was just wide of the upright. In the 12th minute, Lazio should have been awarded a penalty – Manuel Lazzari easily beating Martin Caceres for pace only to be blatantly pushed in the back in the box. No VAR review from the referee on this occasion. Lazio broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, Ciro Immobile isolating German Pezzella and playing a well-timed pass into the path of Joaquin Correa. The Spaniard timed his run well to beat the offside trap and coolly rounded Bartlomiej Dragowski before slotting into an empty net. 1-0.
Three minutes later, Lazio and Correa should have made it two. Luis Alberto played a great ball to Correa who was denied by Dragowski, the Polish keeper making a great save. Fiorentina hit back on the 28th minute, a driving run from Franck Ribery down the Lazio right-hand side. The Lazio defense backed off the winger who pulled the ball back to the penalty spot. Federico Chiesa smashed the ball past an onlooking Strakosha with a first-time finish. 1-1.
In the 41st-minute, substitute Luca Ranieri received a yellow card for a high boot; the Italian should have led with his head but strangely decided a swinging boot was the better option.
Fiorentina vs Lazio: Second Half
In the second half, Dragowski showed his value to Fiorentina making another excellent save to deny Lucas Leiva who tested the keeper from distance on the 59th minute. In the 61st minute, Jordan Lukaku was introduced by Simone Inzaghi, the Belgian international making his first appearance for Lazio this season. Ribery flashed a shot just inches wide of the Lazio goal in the 65th minute after working space for the shot. With time running out on the clock it looked as if the game was going to be heading for a 1-1 draw. However, Lazio was to make sure they left Florence with all three points. Lukaku, using his physicality to win the ball in his own half, continued to race down the left flank to receive a pass from Luis Alberto. He then delivered the ball into the box with a well placed first-time cross – his ball found Ciro Immobile who ghosted onto the ball after a late run into the box. His header beat Dragowski and gave Lazio the lead. 1-2.
Jordan Lukaku should have had another assist in the 95th minute: his square ball found Luis Alberto free in the box. The Spaniards shot was destined for the net only for Ranieri to block his effort with his hand. Ranieri received a second yellow in a game he will want to forget. Felipe Caicedo took the penalty for Lazio which was saved by Dragowski – a stand out player for the Viola.
Fiorentina vs Lazio: Man of the Match
Ciro Immobile is my Man of the Match for his performance in Florence. In a game in which the striker was starved of the ball, Immobile showed his class snatching all three points for Lazio with his well-timed header at the death, his only shot of the match. Nearly all of his 41 touches come from outside the box on the night. However, the Italian played a major role in Correa’s goal, providing the assist. His effort and work rate couldn’t be faulted, making countless runs throughout the game to keep the Viola defensive unit on their toes.
This article initially appeared on Golazzo Calcio, Matty Lewis’ blog
