Roma defeated Lazio 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico in the fourth round of Serie A to claim victory in the Rome derby.
Federico Balzaretti opened the scoring for the Giallorossi on the 63rd minute and Adem Ljajic secured the win in injury time to give Roma their first derby win since 2011.
The first shot of the game came from Daniele De Rossi on the 12th minute 12. The Roman found himself in space 30 yards from goal but his shot flew well over the bar.
After a cagey start to the game, Gervinho was presented with the first real chance of the game on the half hour mark. Francesco Totti floated a delightful ball to the back post from a free-kick, but the Ivorian headed the ball into the ground and wide of Federico Marchetti’s left hand post.
The Aquile started to apply some pressure of their own and were looking threatening. Abdoulay Konko did well to dispossess Alessandro Florenzi in the middle of the park but failed to pick out Antonio Candreva, who was in acres of space on the left hand side.
Despite their negativity Lazio came closest just five minutes into the second half. Hernanes whipped in a dangerous ball from the left and the ball deflected of Leandro Castan onto the crossbar.
The Giallorossi fired straight back, when just two minutes later De Rossi headed just inches wide from a corner.
After a dreadful first half the game exploded into life and the Biancocelesti came withing inches of opening the scoring through Miroslav Klose. Senad Lulic whipped in a menacing ball from the left hand side only for the German to scuff the shot wide.
Roma deservedly got their goal on the 63rd minute after an extraordinary sequence of play. Federico Balzaretti first rattled the post only for Adem Ljajic to somehow miss after a goal-line clearance from Michael Ciani. However, just two minutes later, Balzaretti did get his goal smashing the ball home on the volley from a Totti cross.
De Rossi was lucky not to pick up a second yellow and be sent off on the 69th minute after he clearly stamped on Lulic’s ankle.
The ‘home’ side nearly doubled their advantage on the 71st minute after yet another superb cross from Totti. Despite the wonderful ball Marchetti made a good reaction save to deny his fellow Italian international.
It went from bad to worse for Vladimir Petkovic’s men on the 81st minute when Andre Dias, who was only on the pitch two minutes, was sent off for a supposed last man challenge on Totti.
It looked as Lazio may steal a point in the 90th minute when Ederson found himself one on one with the goalkeeper only for De Rossi to make a miraculous last ditch tackle to deny him.
The Giallorossi were awarded a penalty in injury time after Cristian Ledesma dragged down Ljajic. The Serbian stepped up and tucked the ball into the bottom left corner to make sure of a Roma win.
The Aquile thought they had pulled a goal back back in the last minute but Klose was correctly ruled offside.
