Parma made two wins in a row as they added Lazio’s head to their collection with an important victory at the Stadio Olimpico.
Valeri Bojinov opened the scoring early on with a wonderful volleyed strike into the roof of Fernando Muslera’s net. Lazio came fighting back and were given a helping hand when Mauro Zarate leveled the scoring from the spot just minutes before half time.
The visitors were paid back shortly after however, when Aleksander Kolarov brought down Bojinov to gift Parma a chance from the spot. Nicola Amoruso duly took the gift without hesitation to restore his side’s lead before the break.
Playing the entire second period a man down, the Biancocelesti were unable to find a way back, and the Crociati returned home with another three points.
Parma came out firing as they looked to take the home side by surprise in the opening minutes.
The Biancocelesti eventually found their feet, and on five minutes Antonio Mirante had to be alert between the sticks when Roberto Baronio put a tricky ball into the mix from a long range free kick.
The Gialloblu came storming back and should have taken the lead just three minutes later following a mix-up in the Lazio box. Paolo Castellini looked to take advantage with a clever cross to the back post, but Bojinov headed just wide under pressure from two stoppers.
Lazio continued to push forward, and they found much joy down the left flank through Kolarov who continued to attack at will.
On 20 minutes the visitors took the lead in style when Bojinov fired home on the volley within the box. The Biancocelesti were furious given Parma had opted to play on, despite an earlier collision between Roberto Baronio and Amoruso. Nonetheless, Guildolin’s men were well within their right to do so as they took an early lead.
Ballardini’s men were chasing shadows as Parma continued to push forward. On 35 minutes Sebastiano Siviglia’s dark moment continued when he was forced off early following another muscular problem just days after returning back to action.
On 41 minutes Lazio were handed a lifeline when Cruz was chopped down by McDonald Mariga inside the Parma box. Fellow Argentine Zarate stepped up to the plate, and coolly slotted the ball home for his first Serie A goal in five months.
Three minutes later the favor was returned when Kolarov took Bojinov down, to gift the visitors a penalty. The Serbian then talked his way to a red card after having previously been shown yellow, and Amoruso made no mistakes as he put the Crociati 2-1 up before half time.
Ballardini introduced Pasquale Foggia into the mix after the re-start to try and give the Aquilotti some added spark going forward.
Just seconds later however it was Parma who should have had a third when Amoruso turned Cribari in the box and smashed a great shot onto the woodwork. The former Torino forward was extremely unlucky not to get a second after his exquisite attempt on the turn.
On 53 minutes Zarate and Cruz combined well with some intricate passing between four yellow shirts. Unfortunately for Lazio, Maurito’s shot lacked precision and Mirante had no trouble in collecting the danger.
Ten minutes later the home side should have leveled when Baronio slotted a quick free kick through to Zarate who found himself through on goal. The mercurial youngster looked to slide the ball towards the back post, but Mirante made a decisive intervention to maintain the visitor’s lead.
Parma began to take the upper hand as they looked to make their numerical advantage count. On 70 minutes Amoruso had a chance to strike from just meters out, but his effort went straight into the legs of Muslera.
The game became increasingly stretched in the dying minutes as the Aquilotti threw everything forward in search of an equalizer.
It proved too little too late for Ballardini’s men who were made to pay dear for Kolarov’s first half sending off. The Ducali held on for a precious away win, and moved to double figures after just five rounds since their return to the top flight.
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