Lazio continued their excellent run of form with a 2-0 win against Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in the lunchtime game on Sunday.
Filip Djordjevic opened the scoring in a first half dominated by the Aquile, and Senad Lulic sealed the result on the counter attack in stoppage time after Fiorentina had controlled the second half.
The visitors started the brighter, dominating possession in the early stages and putting Fiorentina on the back foot.
The Biancocelesti created their first chance ten minutes in, when Stefan Radu drilled a pass into the feet of Stefano Mauri. The Lazio captain swiveled and blazed a shot over from 12 yards, seemingly unaware of the time and space he had available to him.
Fiorentina began to gradually get more of a foothold in the game and created their first chance 35 minutes in.
A fantastic training ground move almost came good when David Pizarro clipped the ball across to Marcos Alonso, who headed back across to Khouma Babacar, but the big striker saw his headed effort go just over.
Lazio took the lead almost immediately afterwards with a fantastic passing move. Lucas Biglia threaded a fantastic ball through to Antonio Candreva on the right hand side of the box, and the Italian international squared for Filip Djordjevic to emphatically smash his finish into the roof of the net from six yards.
The visitors very nearly made it two before the break when the ball broke for Djordjevic, who carried the ball into the box before selflessly laying off to Candreva, but the winger’s shot was parried well by Neto.
Borja Valero made his anticipated entrance for the second half and the substitution proved to be the catalyst for a much improved Fiorentina performance.
La Viola almost scored a sensational equaliser when a chipped free kick over the top of the Lazio defence was met by an audacious Alberto Aquilani overhead kick, which came back off the post after a touch from Federico Marchetti.
It continued to be one way traffic as Fiorentina searched for the elusive leveller and they were presented with a great opportunity on the hour mark.
Another well worked set play found Valero on the right, who hooked back a cross to Marcos Alonso but the wing back crashed his finish well over from 12 yards.
Despite being under pressure for most of the second half, Lazio very nearly won it with two minutes remaining when Antonio Candreva was released on the counter attack. After running half the length of the pitch, Candreva tried to square to Eddy Onazi rather than go it alone and his pass was well cut out by the retreating Mati Fernandez.
Fiorentina didn’t learn their lesson, as Lazio countered again with the home side pressing forward. Candreva again carried the ball forward, but this time his square ball found Senad Lulic who tapped in to seal the result.
Follow Alasdair Mackenzie on Twitter: @olimpiacalcio
