Today’s Serie A fixture between Crotone and Lazio at the Ezio Scida Stadium was on the brink of being called off but went ahead as planned. It might have given the hosts some reprieve but it did not come. Crotone continue to struggle in Italian top-flight football with Lazio adding to their woes.
Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio traveled to flood-affected Crotone and sailed past the challenge of relegation threatened side with goals from Ciro Immobile and Joaquin Correa. The Sharks of Calabria conceded in either halves and were unable to cause Pepe Reina any trouble in the Lazio goal.
The Biancocelesti profited from their efficiency in front of goal, while the hosts languished with their inability to score. Arkadiusz Reca had the first real chance for Crotone but his header lacked accuracy and the ball sailed over the bar. Fortune was not on the Sharks’ side as Simy’s shot from inside the box came off the right post. They would not get a chance again as the Romans made their superiority count.
? Mister #Inzaghi ha scelto l'undici per affrontare il @FcCrotoneOff! #CMonEagles ? pic.twitter.com/4rTRswbHnz
— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) November 21, 2020
Lazio’s first opportunity came within the first 10 minutes. Alex Cordaz gave Ciro Immobile a golden chance to score but his effort was well off target. Joaquin Correa also tried his luck moments later but Cordaz had it in control this time. Immobile was thwarted once but he would not make the same mistake again. The Lazio captain received the ball from Marco Parolo, and he would head it home for his fifth goal of the 2020-21 campaign.
After taking the lead, the visitors continued to put Cordaz under pressure. Immobile was in the center of affairs again, but failed to make his solo run count. Correa pulled strings from the middle of the pitch and his inch perfect cross was met by Parolo, but the Crotone goalkeeper turned it behind for a corner.
Before the end of the first half, Lazio would get another chance to pull ahead. Luis Alberto swung in a corner and found Mohamed Salim Fares in the six-yard box. However, the France born Algerian wing-back could not place the ball into the back of the net.
? #SerieA | #MatchDay8
— FC Crotone (@FcCrotoneOff) November 21, 2020
⏰ 15:00
? Stadio Ezio Scida
⚽️ #CrotoneLazio #StartingXI#WeAreSharks ??? pic.twitter.com/3h7EsnAC4f
Crotone players breathed a sigh of relief when the referee blew for the end of the period. But their luck would not change. Simone Inzaghi’s men were cautious in protecting their lead and hit their rivals on the break. Immobile pierced the Crotone defense and allowed Correa to run at goal. The Argentine attacker went on a solo run, dribbling past his opponents before unleashing a low powerful strike to make it 0-2.
After providing for Correa’s goal, Immobile had the chance to double his tally. He could have put the match beyond any doubt as Akpa-Akpro bisected the defense with an immaculate through ball, but his shot was wide of the target. Half chances were created by both sides but nothing materialized into anything concrete. The Biancocelesti made changes to ensure they return home with the three points on offer and a clean sheet to show for.
Crotone tried but their lack of quality in the final third did not cause Lazio defense any problems. Simone Inzaghi would be pleased with the result as his side jumped into European competition qualifying places for the first time this season. With both Immobile and Correa getting on the scoreboard bodes well for the congested fixture list awaiting them.
For Crotone and Giovanni Stroppa, the result is in line with the bookmakers early season prediction. The Sharks struggle to put up a fight against high quality opposition and continue to ship in goals. They have the worst goal difference in Serie A and chairman Gianni Vrenna must be thinking about drastic steps to step their poor run of form. Fiorentina replaced Giuseppe Iachini with Cesare Prandelli, and it might be time Crotone followed suit.
MATCH REPORT
November 21, 2020 – Serie A 2020-2021 Round 8
CROTONE-LAZIO 0-2
SCORERS: 21′ Immobile, 58′ Correa
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CROTONE (3-5-2): Cordaz; Magallan, Marrone, Cuomo; Rispoli (46′ P. Pereira), Benali, Petriccione (68′ Dragus), Vulic (79′ Riviere), Reca; Messias, Simy (Festa, Crespi, Golemic, Djidji, Cigarini, Crociata, Molina, Rojas, Zanellato, Eduardo, Siligardi) Coach: Stroppa |
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LAZIO (3-5-2): Reina; Patric (79′ Hoedt), Acerbi, Radu; Lazzari, Parolo (46′ Akpa Akpro), Leiva, Luis Alberto, Fares (46′ Marusic); Correa (62′ Caicedo), Immobile (75′ A. Pereira) (Furlanetto, Anderson, G. Pereira, Armini, Cataldi, Muriqi) Coach: S. Inzaghi |
REFEREE: Mr. Sacchi from Macerata
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Rispoli, Marrone, Cuomo (C), Fares, Parolo, Leiva, Luis Alberto (L); Extra Time: 1st Half 1′; 2nd Half 3′
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