Like searching for a long lost set of keys, Lazio finally found that winning feeling in Italy once again.
Seven long matches had come and gone away in Serie A, with only 10 bags of manure left from the fans at Formello to show for it.
Yet, under such explicit and immense pressure to succeed in their Coppa Italia match with Udinese on Thursday, Stefano Pioli led his men to do just that.
In unified and determined fashion, the Biancocelesti refused to be disheartened once Panagiotis Kone broke the deadlock for the Zebrette in stunning fashion, and Alessandro Matri cancelled the setback within minutes.
The team were firing on all cylinders throughout the match, showing what potential they’ve always had in store. Matri’s goal was much deserved for his persistency alongside Antonio Candreva, who foreshadowed how much menace his game can bring to haunt opponents.
Danilo Cataldi’s vital game-winner and fierce celebrations that followed were a portrait of just how much the result meant to the Aquile, which saw them replenish some pride in the ailing Stadio Olimpico atmosphere and advance to the quarter-final stage.
But more daunting still was the tie with Inter the following weekend, which Pioli felt needed a perfect performance from his side.
“It will be a complicated and difficult game playing against a team who appears to be unbeatable,” the coach admitted to the assembled press prior to the match.
“We will have to find the best performance of the year and I think we can do it.”
Sure enough, Lazio’s 2-1 victory over Inter on Sunday night was one of their finest performances imaginable.
The momentum of Candreva’s sniper instincts against Udinese were prominent after only five minutes against Inter, as the winger scored his third goal of the season from a beautifully worked corner kick that looked straight out of the training ground.
Lucas Biglia provided the assist, and would marshall his teammates to perform to their highest level possible much like Pioli said, in order to keep the upset on the cards.
Mauricio obliged, and met the occasion with one of his sturdiest defensive displays yet. Despite the dominant possession from the Nerazzurri, the Brazilian granted very little space for the opposition to establish chances due to his punctuality in both tackling and interceptions.
Inter’s eventual equalizer proved merely incidental, as Felipe Melo’s recklessness gave Lazio and Antonio Candreva the ultimate redemption to score the game winner from the penalty spot.
Samir Handanovic saved, but Candreva’s heroics could not be stopped on his game-winning rebound, which gave Roberto Mancini his first ever loss to the Biancocelesti in his managerial history with Inter.
The Aquile will surely find solace now over the Christmas break, and can rest assured knowing that they have the quality to return to their best form in 2016.
