Siena: Pegolo, Angelo, Rossetini, Terzo, Del Grosso, Brienza, Bolzoni, Gazzi (67’ Codrea), Grossi (49’ Mannini), Calaio, Destro.
Lazio: Bizzarri, Scaloni (45’ Carrizzo), Stankevicius, Biava, Radu, Lulic, Cana (46’ Gonzalez), Ledesma, Sculli (80’ Diakite), Cisse, Klose.
Despite the winter brek and a chance to get the many injuries in Lazio out of the way, Coach Reja was again forced to choose a starting eleven out of a restricted number of players. Looking at the player the team representing the blue shirts this evening more than half of the starters must be seen as surprises if comparing to what could have been. Bizzarri, Scaloni, Stankevicius, Cana, Lulic and Sculli can all be debated whether any of them were expected to be amongst the first eleven, nevertheless the travelling fans were expecting a win. Facing a Siena that had not won the last seven, and not scored in any of the last five games, felt like a start comfortable enough
In a more traditional 4-4-2 formation the players initially looked fairly lost but after a short while Lazio started putting some pressure on Siena. Klose looked sharp and ready, as did Cisse and Lulic and Siena early on looked like going for a more defensive approach against the league’s best away team. The home team created the most dangerous chances though, with a quick counter after an early Lazio corner creating danger, and shortly after and still within the first ten minutes Destro had a dangerous shot from outside the penalty area and by exploiting the weakness in speed of Scaloni Calaio was set up to finish.
In the eleventh minute Lazio were torn apart in defense and the extremely slow pace present in the Lazio back line with Biava and Stankevicius allowed Destro to come more or less one on one with Bizzarri, who this time had no chance to parry the lethal finish of the attacker and Siena needed only to face this miserable defense in order to break their goal drought. After this Lazio dominated the possession on the pitch and Siena relied on counters only. With the first 30 minutes played it felt as Sannino had done his homework well and the choice of tactics exploited every inch of weakness this edition of Lazio has.
Sculli, today worse than ever, managed to miss a clear chance by sending the ball over the bar despite from short distance and shortly after another brilliant opportunity was wasted by the player. Despite having more than one hour left of the game things looked depressing for the visitors. Soon enough Siena once again used the weakness in the Lazio back line and with Stankevicius being left flat footed and completely mistimed in the positioning Siena challenged the Lithuanian – who fouled inside the area, giving Calaio the privelige of opening the Lazio goal with a well taken penalty.
After the second goal Lazio again tried to push for a goal and a few half hearted attempts were created on crosses from the right. In the 45th minute Sculli found himself in a good position for a header, but sent the ball outside the right hand post of Pegolo. As the clock reached the last minute of the half the disastrous display by Reja’s men was given a new dimension, as Bizzarri was handed a red card and Siena given a second penalty. Calaio made no mistake and Carrizzo could do nothing but picking out the ball and realize there was still 45 minutes left to play.
The second half started with Klose getting the chance to get Lazio back into the game with a header, but the usually so lethal German somehow missed an open goal. The Siena coach had instructed his players to make sure Lazio were not allowed back into the game and his team, no matter how inferior on paper, made the Romans look like the bunch of overpaid losers not showing the slightest of care about what outcome the game would have. Reja was again dominated by the opposition coach and the team did not only continue the poor form from before the winter break, but also added to the fear many Lazio fans have been having this season; that it is only a matter of time before Lazio keep falling down the standings and letting the teams from behind take over the momentum.
From a Lazio perspective there is nothing else to really report from the second half. The team continued to look lost, without ideas and completely indifferent to the fact that Siena outplayed Lazio for the full 90 minutes. Possession-wise things might look different, but one has to understand Sannino made the best out of the situation and showed the rest of the teams of Serie A how easily Lazio can be taken apart. To further understand what mentality Reja has brought to the team one can study the actions and reactions of the two coaches. Despite Siena being up and Lazio not having the ability to get back into the game it was Sannino that throughout the second half was coaching actively from the touch line, while Reja looked as indifferent as always.
Worth mentioning is that Destro also got a second goal this evening as he headed in the fourth goal just before being subbed out. The travelling Lazio fans left the stadium long before this, and no matter how much “Non mollare mai”-attitude that is present on the world of a laziali the humiliation undergone this evening is topped only by the five straight derby losses the same coach as today should be held responsible of enforcing on the loyal biancocelesti supporters.
(Khashayar Kashefi)