Lazio 1 : 1 Catania - Bergessio gives Catania deserved point

Posted Wednesday, October 26, 2011 by PA

Lazio failed to take full advantage of Udinese's defeat at Napoli as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Catania, missing the chance to go top of the Serie A table.

Miroslav Klose put the hosts in front in the 17th minute but Gonzalo Bergessio equalised shortly after the hour mark to hand his team a deserved point.

The result has left the Romans third in the standings, level on 15 points with Udinese.

Lazio went into the encounter at the Stadio Olimpico looking to make it four wins in a row and had the first chance of the game in the third minute.

Senad Lulic fed Giuseppe Sculli inside the area and he struck the ball just wide of the far post.

At the other end, Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti had to be sharp to turn away a superb 30-yard drive from Gennaro Delvecchio.

Just when Catania looked more dangerous, Lazio went in front. Klose got his head behind Christian Brocchi's cross from the right and his effort beat Catania goalkeeper Mariano Andujar.

Lazio pressed forward and, in the 26th minute, Andujar made a one-handed save to clear Giuseppe Sculli's close-range header.

Catania reacted and on the half-hour mark, Maxi Lopez was denied by a block from Giuseppe Biava.

The visitors almost equalised before half-time. Marchetti had to be at his best to pull off a fine stop to repel Sergio Almiron's diagonal effort.

Catania continued to press forward and almost restored parity early in the second half. Marchetti had to dive at full stretch to clear Bergessio's close-range effort.

The visitors were finally rewarded in the 63rd minute when Bergessio benefited from a poor clearance by Lazio defender Marius Stankevicius and fired a right-footed shot past Marchetti.

A tired Lazio could not find a way past Catania's defence and were limited to shooting from outside of the area.

With one minute remaining, substitute Hernanes struck just wide from 20 yards as Lazio had to settle for a point while Catania extended their unbeaten run to five games.