Lazio | 2 - 0 | Sporting Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Libor Kozak (43') |  | |
| Giuseppe Sculli (55') | | |
| Date | : | Wed, Dec 14, 2011 | Time | : | 19:00 CET |
| Play on | : | UEFA Europa League |
Lazio 2 - 0 Sporting Lisbon 14th Dec Highlight 2011
Lazio 2 - 0 Sporting Lisbon 14th Dec 2011 Story
Lazio beat under-strength Sporting Lisbon 2-0 to progress to the round of 32 of the Europa League.
The result at the Stadio Olimpico coupled with FC Zurich's 2-0 triumph over Vaslui in the group's other game allowed the Italians to qualify alongside Lisbon.
Libor Kozak put Lazio ahead in the 42nd minute before Giuseppe Sculli doubled his team's lead in the second half.
The Roman club clinched second place in Group D with Vaslui three points behind in third position.
Sporting, with first place already assured, went into the game without injured players Jeffren, Marat Izmailov, Alberto Rodriguez, Fabian Rinaudo and Matias Fernandez.
Lazio dominated possession early on but it was the visitors who had the first good chance in the 23rd minute, when Diego Rubio's right-footed strike from outside the area went just wide of the far post.
The hosts should have gone ahead in the 25th minute but Oguchi Onyewu made a crucial tackle with Kozak in the area, ready to shoot into an open goal.
Lazio continued to push forward and were rewarded before half-time.
Kozak got his head behind Senad Lulic's cross from the left and his effort beat visiting goalkeeper Boeck Marcelo.
The Portuguese came to life after the re-start and almost equalised in the 47th minute, but Lazio goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri kept out Rubio's 20-yard effort.
Andre Santos then warmed Bizzarri's hands with a hard drive from the edge of the area before, just when Sporting looked more dangerous, Lazio struck in the 55th minute.
Mobido Diakite got past his marker and crossed towards the area to find Sculli, who coolly struck past Marcelo.
Lazio almost made it 3-0 before the hour mark but Marcelo palmed over Sculli's powerful volley.
Midway through the second half, news reached at the Stadio Olimpico that Zurich had taken the lead against Vaslui and the home fans cheered.
Lazio were happy to sit on their lead and Sporting almost reduced the deficit with two minutes to go.
Valeri Bojinov's curled free-kick forced Bizzarri to fully stretch to clear in what was the last chance of the game
Lazio vs Sporting Lisbon Last 5 match
| Lazio | Sporting Lisbon |
| Dec 10, 2011, Lecce 2 - 3 Lazio | Dec 10, 2011, Sporting Lisbon 1 - 0 CD Nacional |
| Dec 5, 2011, Lazio 3 - 0 Novara | Dec 1, 2011, Sporting Lisbon 2 - 0 FC Zurich |
| Dec 1, 2011, FC Vaslui 0 - 0 Lazio | Nov 26, 2011, Benfica 1 - 0 Sporting Lisbon |
| Nov 26, 2011, Lazio 0 - 1 Juventus | Nov 6, 2011, Sporting Lisbon 3 - 1 Uniao de Leiria |
| Nov 19, 2011, SSC Napoli 0 - 0 Lazio | Nov 3, 2011, FC Vaslui 1 - 0 Sporting Lisbon |
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