Lazio’s summer preparation ends with the fifth victory in seven friendlies. In view of the first official outing scheduled for Sunday 18 against Venezia, there is still good news for Marco Baroni. The defensive solidity continues, only one goal conceded in the last four friendlies (from Brereton-Diaz to Southampton, irregular goal for a clear foul on Isaksen at the start of the action). The decision was made by Tijjani Noslin with a nice header, after Noslin himself had missed a goal with a practically empty net. Cadiz almost never dangerous near Provedel, with Baroni who presents himself with more certainties than doubts for his seasonal debut in eight days.
First half under-rhythm
After a slow start, in the 14th minute of the first half, Cadiz gets their first chance of the match with Ramos who misses the target with his header after a nice cross from Sobrino. Lazio risks a mess in the 20th minute and the plot is similar to the previous opportunity, but it starts from the opposite flank. Alejo from the right tries to cross to the far post, Lazzari closes the diagonal but his header is reckless, hitting Sobrino who risks the most classic of goals. Patric manages to clear and avoid worse trouble. Lazio’s first flash in the 22nd minute with Gaetano Castrovilliwho moves to the center from the center-right and tries to shoot from 20 meters. His right-footed shot, however, goes to the right of the goal post defended by Gil. Alejo makes a great move in the 25th minute, clearly jumping over Marusic, Lazio suffers a lot on the wings but nothing dangerous comes of the cross from the Spanish winger. Concern in the 27th minute for Lazio, on a corner kick from Isaksen, Castellanos anticipates Diakité and heads over the crossbar. The heads of the two players collide and the one who definitely gets the worst of it is the Argentine who needs the help of the white and blue medical staff. After about 3 minutes, play can resume. The pace doesn’t pick up, in the 42nd minute the first yellow of the match arrives for Iza who, after the third foul on Zaccagni, protests with the referee, thus justifying the card for protests. The best chance of the first half for Lazio comes in the last action of the first half. Beautiful individual play by Castrovilli, perfect assist for Isaksen whose left footed shot from a tight angle was blocked in two stages by Gil.
Noslin’s Ringtone
The news of the second half actually represent a preview of the market. In fact, Noslin enters from the first minute and for the first time since he arrived at Lazio he is deployed as a winger, which will be his main role with the imminent arrival of Boulaye Dia. Pellegrini and Dele-Bashiru also take to the field, with Isaksen, Lazzari and a positive Castrovilli out. In the fourth minute it is Noslin who creates an important opportunity for Lazio from the winger. The former Verona player recovers a good ball and launches himself into open play, serves Zaccagni who after a rouleta tries to shoot with his left but the ball is comfortable for Caro. It is a different Lazio in the second half and it shows, Dele-Bashiru and Noslin try to accompany Castellanos more, too isolated in the first half. Incredible double opportunity squandered by Lazio after a splendid action. It all started from the build-up from the bottom, on Castellanos’ pass Vecino was good at verticalizing for Dele-Bashiru who could fly in a 40-meter coast to coast towards Caro’s goal. From the edge the Nigerian kicked softly, on Caro’s rebound Noslin could reiterate in the completely unguarded goal but incredibly headed it out. A flurry of substitutions and Tchaouna also came in and immediately became dangerous with a nice left-footed shot from the edge in the 21st minute, parried for a corner by Caro. 60 seconds passed and there was another chance for Tchaouna, served splendidly by Guendouzi. However, the former Salernitana player kicked a sort of penalty in central movement and Caro had no problems blocking in two stages. Lazio was much more fluid and quick in the second half, capable of recovering many balls in the Spanish half and dominating the match. The only thing missing was the goal which however came in the 71st minute with a splendid header from Noslin. Beautiful corner kicked by Tchaouna at the near post, perfect anticipation by the former Verona player who turns at the near post, ball that kisses the crossbar and beats Caro for the Biancocelesti advantage. On the Lazio celebration, the referee Orellana Cid cautions Guendouzi, not new to the yellow card in these summer friendlies. Lazio has the match totally in hand, in the 29th minute a beautiful combination between Tchaouna and Dele-Bashiru, perfect cross from the Nigerian for Castellanos who is stopped only by the crossbar. Tempers flare up at the end, yellow cards rain down especially in the Biancocelesti home and Cadiz tries to force for the equaliser, without however ever becoming dangerous near Provedel.
CADIZ (4-4-2): Gil (from the 1st minute Caro);. Iza (from 18′ st Zaldua), Fali (from 43′ st Almagro), Chust (from 18′ st Glauder), Matos (from 43′ st Julio); Alejo (from 1st st De La Rosa, from 35th st Bastida), Diakité, Alex (from 18th st Kouame), Sobrino (from 18th st Brian); Ramos (from 30′ st Mwepu), Roger (from 30′ st Blaise). All: Lopez
Available: Perez, Ontiveros, Vazquez.
LAZIO (4-2-3-1): Provedel; Lazzari (from 1′ st Pellegrini), Patric, Romagnoli, Marusic (from 18′ st Hysaj); Guendouzi, Vecino (from 18′ st Cataldi); Isaksen (from 1′ st Noslin), Castrovilli (from 1′ st Dele-Bashiru), Zaccagni (from 18′ st Tchaouna); Castellanos All: Baroni
Available Mandas, Furlanetto, Renzetti, Rovella, Casale, Tavares, Ruggeri, Milani, Akpa-Akpro.
Referee: Manuel Jesus Orellana Cid
Assistants: Ángel Ramos Cinos – José Manuel Sarmiento Millet
Goalscorers: 26′ st Noslin (L)
Yellow cards: 42′ pt Iza (C), 26′ st Guendouzi (L), 30′ st Pellegrini (L), 33′ st Glauder (C), 33′ st Castellanos (L)
Expelled: