Lazio pulls to tie of Serie A Lead
December 4th 2010 12:14
Game Recap from Espn
Lazio moved Level on points with AC Milan at the top of Serie A thanks to an impressive 3-1 win over a lacklustre Inter Milan, increasing the pressure on Inter boss Rafael Benitez.
Giuseppe Biava put the hosts in front in the 26th minute and they seemed to be cruising to victory when Mauro Zarate doubled their lead in the 53rd minute.
However, Goran Pandev gave the defending champions hope in the 74th minute before the inexorable Hernanes sealed a deserved win for Lazio with a free-kick in the 89th minute.
Lazio had the first chance of the game in the 18th minute when Sergio Floccari managed to divert a cross towards the goal with his shoulder and Luca Castellazzi made a save on the stretch. The ball fell to Stefano Mauri, but his shot was blocked by Javier Zanetti.
The Biancoceleste took a deserved lead eight minutes later, although there was a touch of fortune about the way in which Biava put them in front.
Hernanes' header was blocked by Castellazzi, but the ball looped towards the goal with the Inter goalkeeper on the floor unable to react.
Esteban Cambiasso came to his rescue, but his goalline clearance was hit straight into the midriff of Biava and the ball cannoned back into the goal.
A good counter-attack almost led to a second goal for Lazio two minutes later with Floccari pulling the ball back towards Mauri, but Zanetti got back to make a crucial saving tackle for the second time in the match.
The hosts looked even better early in the second half and Zarate doubled their advantage eight minutes in.
He was picked out by Hernanes, although a poor attempt to clear the ball by Inter's debutant defender Felice Natalino assisted him as he ran through and lifted the ball past Castellazzi from eight yards.
Floccari missed the chance to make it three in the 57th minute as Lazio threatened to run riot at the Stadio Olimpico.
Hernanes shot 10 minutes later was parried to Floccari, who set up Mauri to wrap up the win, but he dragged his shot wide.
Inter then grabbed a lifeline thanks to Pandev's first goal since February in the 74th minute.
The Macedonian striker got lucky with two rebounds, one off Biava and the other off Dias before shooting past Nelson Muslera, who had otherwise had a quiet night.
All of a sudden, Inter were on top and Ivan Cordoba almost brought them level from a corner, but Muslera made the save.
But Hernanes gave the result a more realistic look in the 89th minute with a direct free-kick which took a slight deflection off the wall on its way in.
Wesley Sneijder hit the crossbar in stoppage time, but Inter were unable to find a way back into the game as Lazio returned to the top of Serie A in style.
The result leaves Benitez's Inter seven points off pole position.
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