Roma vs. Lazio: Francesco Totti's Side Falls After Keeper's Early Red Card

Lazio took sole possession of third place in Serie A with a 2-1 win in the Rome Derby on Sunday.  Roma started the game brightly, but their fortunes turned quickly with the seventh minute sending off of goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

A careless giveaway in midfield led to Lazio forward Hernanes releasing Miroslav Klose on a quick counter attack through the middle. As Klose neared the perfectly weighted ball, Stekelenburg rushed off his line. The Roma keeper dove for the ball, but Klose was too quick getting a touch around him.  Stekelenburg only succeeded in bringing down the German striker.

The referee did not hesitate in showing the red. Not only did Roma lose their starting keeper, but they were forced to bring off Argentine forward Erik Lamela in the process.

Hernanes stepped up and converted the penalty, giving Lazio the early lead.

Despite going down a man, Roma looked dangerous in attack for the next quarter hour. Left back Jose Angel continued getting down the left flank and Francesco Totti proved successful at holding up play in the middle of the field.

Roma's persistence in attack paid off less than ten minutes after the penalty when Rodrigo Taddei swung in a cross from the right side. Midfielder Fabio Simplicio got his head on the ball at the near side to flick it on before streaking defender Juan's left foot met the ball at the back post. Juan's shot glanced off the crossbar only to find a waiting Fabio Borini, who side footed it into the Lazio goal.

Around 25 minutes in, Lazio finally found their feet in possession. But despite their ability to keep the ball, they did little in the way of creative attacking as Roma fought to get to the half even.

The second half saw Lazio get on the front foot through the play of Stefano Mauri and Alvaro González. Their efforts finally paid off on a 62nd minute free kick. The ball was sent in to the far post, where a sliding Mauri redirected it past substitute Roma keeper Bogdan Lobont.

Despite Roma making a concerted push over the final twenty minutes, Mauri's effort proved to be the winning goal.

Those are the highlights. These are the best and worst trends from the match.

The Best

1. Lazio's attacking midfielders

Mauri and González were the brightest lights in Lazio's offense. They were in stark contrast to Klose and Hernanes, who largely disappeared from the game following the penalty they created early on.  Mauri was solid in holding the ball and playing in teammates, while González excelled running at the Roma defense down the right side.

2. Juan manning the Roma barricades

Roma's central defender was everywhere at once, pushing forward to contribute to the goal, making tough 1-on-1 tackles in front of his line and retreating to win headers on balls played over the top. His one mistake came on Lazio's second goal, when he dropped too quickly and played Mauri onside. But the lapse should not negate a wonderful game from the Brazilian.

3. Totti's hold-up play in central midfield

As they tried to control possession down a man, Roma consistently looked for the feet of their captain.  Totti was able to maintain possession under heavy, sometimes cynical, pressure from Lazio. It bought Roma time to catch their breath and get players forward and contributed to keeping them threatening throughout the match.

The Worst

1. Lazio's creative drought

With the exception of their two wide attacking midfielders, Lazio generally looked short on ideas when they had possession. Despite playing the vast majority of the game with a man advantage, they were out-possessed for the match and managed only six shots on goal. They will take home the victory, but any style points awarded by the viewing public will reside firmly with their opponents.

2. Taddei mistakes

He played in the cross that led to Roma's lone goal, but right back Rodrigo Taddei struggled mightily.  At one stretch in the second half, Taddei misplayed three passes in a row. Each set Lazio on dangerous counter attacks. If not for the withdrawn play of Daniele de Rossi and the inspired defending of Juan, mistakes from Taddei could have cost Roma dearly.

3. Cynical Lazio defending

Up a man after just seven minutes, Lazio was still forced to commit 27 fouls to slow the Roma attack.  Many of those consisted of simply slamming into the back of Totti in the midfield. He was easily the most fouled player in the match. It was a successful strategy, as the continuous fouling disrupted any flow that Roma might have established going forward. But the tactic cast a sour feel over the proceedings.