Julio Baptista’s Goal Decides Roman Derby

Coming into the game AS Roma had a massive 14-point gap to city rivals SS Lazio, whose amazing season has seen them fighting at the Italian summit. Despite both clubs vast differences in form, it counted for nothing coming into a derby as fierce as the Derby della Capitalé.

Roma should count themselves lucky getting away with maximum points. Julio Baptista bagged a brace with his clinical header and handed the team their long awaiting turnaround as the club sailed up to twelfth place after the derby win—whereas Lazio on dropped to fifth spot.

First half

The first half got off with a slow couple of minutes as both teams cautiously measured one another. It didn’t take long before the nasty challenges began, however, as both Tonetto and Ledesma managed to pick up cards for each side within the opening five minutes.

It took a quarter of an hour before the real chances started dropping in. Zarate, standing in a suspicious offside position, received the ball from Pandev but his shot hit the side netting. Lazio’s chance was closely followed by one for Roma as Vucinic’s diving header was denied by Carrizo.

Ten minutes later Zarate had another chance to give Lazio the lead but his downward header missed the target. The forward then received yet another golden opportunity to put his side one up after the rounding two players and firing off a shot that was intercepted by Doni.

Half chances were created by both sides for the remainder of the opening half but it was the visiting side that was closest to taking the lead in what ended with a scoreless deadlock at half time.

Second half

The second half got off to a firing start as Baptista gave the Giallorossi the lead in the 50th minute. The Brazilian met Totti’s impeccable cross and put his header past a diving Carizzo in the Biancocelesti goal.

Lazio were tantalizingly close to an equalizer through Zarate, but the forward’s header was tipped over the crossbar by Doni.

Both Radu and Lichtsteiner managed to get booked minutes before Rosse made the evening’s first substitution after an hour’s play as under-achieving Mauri left the field for Meghni.

In the following minutes Ledesma got his marching orders after his second booking, leaving Lazio to fight with one man down. Despite being one man short, it was Lazio that created the chances as the team pushed hard for a leveller.

A booking for Perrotta with fifteen minutes left to play give way to a double substitution from Spalletti the Roma tactician, as Totti made space for Menez and Panucci left the pitch for Cassetti.

Menez had an instant opportunity to kill off the derby as he had a one-on-one with Carizzo, but the Argentine goalkeeper managed to save the shot. Cassetti on the other hand accidentally slipped the ball away to Rocchi and forced another save out of Doni.

In the 80th minute Rossi made his remaining substitutions and brought on both Dabo and Inzaghi in favor of Brocchi and Rocchi.

Roma were by now protecting their 1-0 lead with ten men behind the ball but that didn’t keep Inzaghi from trying with a header.

Perrotta was shown a red card with five minutes left after first showing his studs to Lichtsteiner. The red card prompted Spalletti to make his final substitution for the evening as he brought on Taddei to replace Vucinic.

Lazio brought all eleven players forward in the dying minutes as they were desperately trying for an equalizer, but Lichtsteiner's free header went over the crossbar and so did Lazio’s last chance.

ROMA-LAZIO 1-0

GOALS: 50’ Baptista

Booked: Tonetto, Perrotta 2x (R), Lichtsteiner, Radu, Ledesma 2x (L)

Sent off: Ledesma 66’, Perrotta 86’

Roma (4-3-1-2): Doni; Panucci (77’ Cassetti), Mexes, Juan, Tonetto; Perrotta, De Rossi, Brighi; Baptista; Vucinic (89’ Taddei), Totti (75’ Menez). Coach: Spalletti.

Lazio (4-3-3): Carrizo; Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Rozenhal, Radu; Brocchi (81’ Dabo), Ledesma, Mauri (59’ Meghni); Pandev, Rocchi (84’ Inga's), Zarate. Coach: Rossi.