Lazio-Cremonese 3-2: Miklinkovic brings the Biancocelesti back to second place

Pleasant match that Lazio won 3-2 over Cremonese in front of over 60,000 spectators who filled the Olimpico to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the victory in the Italian Cup against Roma on 26 May 2013. Not only that: for Stefan Radu it was the The last game of his career, while for Milinkovic it could have been the last at home in the Lazio shirt. And it was the Serbian himself who gave Sarri the 3-2 victory with a brace, after the Lombards had recovered from 2-0 to 2-2.

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The pre-match program is intense: after the giant screens reproduce Lulic’s goal that won the Cup in 2013, the protagonists of 26 May enter the field, from goalkeeper Federico Marchetti (now at Spezia) to Stefano Mauri, passing through Cristian Ledesma and Sergio Floccari, up to Miroslav Klose and Senad Lulic, the Roma goalscorer ten years ago. Also present was the former biancoceleste captain Antonio Candreva, on leave from Salernitana, his current club.

Then the group goes under the Curva Nord, and is joined by Stefan Radu, who said goodbye to Lazio today after 15 seasons: the Romanian defender, born in 1986, arrived in the capital in January 2008, to become the most present player in the club’s history . With the entry that Sarri granted him today in the final minutes, the Romanian who arrived in Formello in 2008 has reached 427 appearances in Lazio. “15 years of battles with the eagle on his chest, Stefan Radu from Lazio for life”, reads the banner displayed in Curva. Less than three minutes go by, and Elseid Hysaj is caught in the box by Luis Alberto, unlocking the score.

Lazio seemed to have the match in complete control, and in the 37th minute Milinkovic doubled their lead, thwarting the markings of Lochoshvili and Bianchetti and putting Pedro’s low cross into the net. In the second half, however, a drop in concentration leads in four minutes (between 53′ and 57′) to an equalizer for the Lombards: first Galdames shortens from outside the area with a right foot deflected by Casale, then Lazzari with a header mocks Provedel with the most sensational own goal. The Cremonese proudly resists Lazio’s outbursts with a double miracle from goalkeeper Sarr, then is pardoned by Immobile. But in the 44th minute, Milinkovic gave his fans the joy of making it 3-2, with a close header from corner play.

Then it’s time for Radu to enter, the general emotion and the expulsion of Sarri from the bench for protests. At the triple whistle, Lazio (still at 20 clean sheets) sees the possibility of closing the championship with 22 games without conceding a goal vanish: this record remains with Milan, but it is a fact that does not spoil the party. Not only second place, but also the certainty of being one of the four teams that will play the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Lazio beats Cremonese 3-2 (2-0).
Lazio (4-3-3): Provedel, Lazzari, Casale, Romagnoli, Hysaj (36′ st Pellegrini), Milinkovic-Savic, Vecino, Luis Alberto (45′ st Basic), Pedro (15′ st Felipe Anderson), Immobile, Zaccagni (45′ st Radu). (All: Sarri.
Cremonese (3-4-1-2): Sarr, Ferrari, Bianchetti, Lochoshvili (33′ st Vasquez), Sernicola, Pickel, Meité, Valeri (23′ st Quagliata), Galdames (23′ st Castagnetti), Ciofani (14′ st Buonaiuto), Tsadjout. (12 Carnesecchi, 13 Saro, 4 Aiwu, 18 Ghiglione, 20 Afena-Gyan, 21 Chiriches, 23 Acella, 77 Okereke).
All: Ballardini.
Referee: Giua of Olbia.
Networks: in the pt 3 Hysaj, 37′ Milinkovic-Savic; in the st 8′ Galdames, 12′ Lazzari (own goal), 44′ Milinkovic-Savic.
Corners: 4-3 for Lazio+
Recovery: 0′ and 5′
Booked: Sernicola, Galdames, Zaccagni for foul play, Pellegrini for touch of hand.
Sarri expelled for protests
Spectators: 64,171.