Lazio have gone in a goal to the good at halftime of the Rome derby, and deservedly so. They put in a first performance of pressure and discipline, leaving AS Roma coach Aurelio Andreazzoli with some work to do to change things for the second half.
AS Roma vs. Lazio, Halftime score 0-1: Aquile deservedly lead
A wonderful goal from Lazio’s Hernanes has given his side a deserved lead at the halftime break, with Roma struggling to penetrate.
AS Roma made a lively start, with Erik Lamela heading the ball right at Federico Marchetti in the opening couple of minutes. But they didn't sustain their pressure, and after some midfield yo-yoing Lazio took control of the game.
Just short of a quarter-of-an-hour in Antonio Candreva forced a save from Maarten Stekelenburg with a rasping shot, and a couple of minutes later the aquile were in the lead. An even more impressive strike by Hernanes a couple of minutes later saw Lazio into the lead. A quick counter-attack gave the Brazilian midfielder space 25 yards from goal, and he proceeded to lash a powerful effort left footed into the top corner.
Roma looked desperate, and Lazio waltzed through their defence with ease; Hernanes pulling the strings. Only a Daniele De Rossi tackle stopped him after he skipped into the Roma box, before Stekelenburg made a diving save at the near post to keep out Senad Lulić.
Roma did manage to steady the ship, though still struggled to create anything other than snapshots. With Lazio staying disciplined through the middle and with numbers out wide, the giallorossi were left puzzled as to how to break through. Francesco Totti went closest with a long range curler in stoppage time at the end of the half, though Federico Marchetti palmed his shot away.
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