Post by VMRO on Aug 30, 2005 4:45:18 GMT -5
PANDEV REWARDS ROSSI'S FAITH
Goran Pandev ensured Lazio got their Serie A campaign off to a winning start against Messina at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday afternoon.
The Macedonian striker netted the only goal after 21 minutes against a team that made the hosts sweat for the victory.
It was only a last-minute decision by Biancoceleste coach Delio Rossi to play Pandev from the start and leave veteran Paolo Di Canio on the bench, much to the surprise of the home fans.
The Sicilian visitors, who narrowly missed out on a place in the UEFA Cup with a seventh-placed finish last season, were unlucky not to come away with a point after having plenty of opportunities to level the score.
Indeed, the performance of Lazio goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi was pivotal with the experienced stopper making several important saves to maintain Lazio's lead.
The visitors controlled the opening minutes of the game and should have taken an early advantage when Riccardo Zampagna's left-footed strike forced Peruzzi to dive to his right to make the block.
Messina continued to dominate the game and it was not until the 21st minute that Lazio had their first opportunity.
Massimo Oddo's long ball towards the area found Pandev, who, with a classy first touch, beat keeper Nicholas Caglioni to put his team ahead.
The goal did not demoralise Messina as they continued to attack in the hope of finding the equaliser.
And their efforts would have paid off on the half-hour mark had Zampagna's close-range strike not gone wide of Peruzzi's right post.
Messina increased the tempo, hoping to find the net before half-time, and Lazio were lucky to escape unharmed when Massimo Donati's strike got a deflection before drifting narrowly wide of the far post.
Seconds later, Peruzzi did well to save Giuseppe Sculli's beautiful right-footed strike.
The visitors picked up where they left off after the restart, with Gaetano D'Agostino's effort saved by Peruzzi.
Midway through the second half, Di Canio replaced Pandev, who appeared to have picked up a knock.
Three minutes later, Messina had their best chance to hit back.
Zampagna's powerful free-kick was cleared by Peruzzi but only as far as Domenico Giampa, whose strike forced Sanchez Cribari to clear off the line.
With 15 minutes remaining, Caglioni denied Lazio their second of the afternoon with an acrobatic save from Christian Manfredini's strike.
Di Canio should have extended his team's lead with six minutes remaining after he played a clever one-two with Tommaso Rocchi, but his final touch let him down and the ball was smuggled to safety by Caglioni.
Lazio managed to hold on though and are up and running