Lazio 2 : 1 AS Roma - Klose earns Lazio victory
Posted Sunday, October 16, 2011 by PA
Miroslav Klose struck a stoppage-time winner as Lazio beat 10-man Roma 2-1 in the Eternal City derby.
The Biancoceleste had lost their previous five meetings with Roma - four under current coach Edy Reja - and this match looked to be heading the same way in the electric atmosphere of the Stadio Olimpico when Pablo Osvaldo gave Roma a fifth-minute lead.
But Hernanes equalised five minutes into the second half from the penalty spot after Simon Kjaer brought down Christian Brocchi, the defender shown a straight red card.
Klose was then denied by the crossbar and team-mate Djibril Cisse's volley rebounded off the post with seven minutes to go, but there was still time for a dramatic winner and for Lazio to stop the rot against their city rivals.
The win moved Reja's Lazio up to fourth in the Serie A standings, just one point behind leaders Juventus.
Roma coach Luis Enrique, experiencing his first derby, was without injured captain Francesco Totti and fielded Miralem Pjanic in support of Bojan and Osvaldo.
Roma, playing as visitors, could not have asked for a better start.
Pjanic fed Osvaldo inside the area and the Italy international took it down on his chest before firing a right-footed shot past Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti.
Lazio reacted and Hernanes found Klose inside the area but he fired wide from a good position.
Midway through the first half, Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg came off his line to clear Cisse's dangerous cross towards an unmarked Klose.
Lazio continued to press forward and Stekelenburg did well to keep out Hernanes' 30-yard bullet strike before half-time.
The hosts' efforts paid off in the 50th minute when referee Paolo Tagliavento pointed to the spot after Kjaer fouled Brocchi, earning the Dane a straight red card.
Hernanes made no mistake with the spot-kick, placing it out of the reach of Stekelenburg.
The goal inspired Lazio, who almost went in front soon afterwards when Hernanes fed Klose and he hit his shot just wide of the far post.
Lazio continued to look for the winner and Roma were forced to defend deeply.
In the 70th minute, Klose got his head to Cristian Ledesma's corner and his effort beat Stekelenburg but struck the crossbar.
Lazio kept the pressure on as Cisse threatened but he saw his right-footed volley hit the woodwork.
However, Reja's men received their reward in stoppage time when Matuzalem passed the ball into the area for Klose to fire past Stekelenburg.
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