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The cold wind pierced through my scarf like needles. My body shook uncontrollably and I was freezing my ass off in the stands. For a Singaporean who has never experienced winter, this was one hell of an experience.
In case you are wondering where exactly I was, I am referring to one of the best football stadiums that hosted a FIFA World Cup finals,
Affectionately known as the ‘Biancoceleste’ (White and Blue in English), Lazio played Torino on week 24 in the Serie A championships and I was in Rome to witness this clash that I had spent six months planning.
Fresh air gushed into my lungs as I paced up the stairs and entered the stadium for the first time. The scene that greeted me was explosive! It is definitely more beautiful and impactful than what I see on television. Speechless, I suddenly felt so closely connected to the team that I have cheered and cried for all these years. Waves of emotions rushed over me, and words could hardly describe how I felt about being right there with my team then. Shedding tears of joy, I told myself, “It is worth it even if it means I am going to freeze to death”.
My childhood dream would not have been realised if not for the help of Paolo. Like me, he supports Lazio and is a native Roman. I met Paolo in the forum on www.laziofever.com, which is a website for English-speaking Lazio fans all over the world. I was worried that I could not get ticket for the match due to last minute changes on the fixture made by the Italian Federation, and Ermetico (Paolo’s nickname) answered to my SOS call on the forum. He helped me to get the ticket I needed and even drove me to the stadium for the match. It was also during the journey that I discovered that he is a stadium announcer for Lazio and offered to introduce me to the players after the game!
This was more than I had bargained for, as I was only expecting to catch the game live, and never in my wildest dreams would I have expected to get the chance to meet the players in person! It sure was a pleasant surprise and I was touched by his kind and humble gesture, especially since he has never even met me prior to this. The lengths that he would go to to help a fellow Lazio fan whom he met on the internet was just incredibly touching!
So there I stood, amongst the thousands of fellow Lazio fans. Whistles resonated from every part of the stadium. Before we knew it,
A cross that was half-cleared by Ousmane Dabo fell to the feet of Ignazio Abate, who took two steps forward and unleashed a rocket from the D that slotted into the near bottom corner. We fought hard but former Lazio custodian, Matteo Sereni, denied Siviglia’s angle drive brilliantly. It was a poor performance and the team was jeered off the pitch at halftime
Stefano Mauri replaced Dabo, who was responsible for letting in the
And no, I think I had better not translate that.
In spite of the tension during the game, comic relief came when Kolarov, Lazio’s left back, rammed a powerful volley in the referee’s face! The referee tried to get up but dropped to the ground immediately. I had this scene captured live on my digital camera.
After waves and waves of attack, we managed to equalise through some bizarre circumstances. 1-1! Lazio Captain, Rocchi, flicked on a corner kick for Mauri's miscued overhead kick, but Siviglia headed the ball into the net from six yards at the near post. At that, I was up on my feet as I shouted myself hoarse! I could hear ‘Non Molllare Mai’ (Do not give up) being chanted from the ‘Curva Nord’ (North Stands) where the Ultras were seated. The atmosphere though, was still very tense as we were on a four-game losing streak and if we lost this game, we would be in trouble.
Just when everyone thought the game would continue, the scorer of the equaliser, Siviglia ran to where the Lazio Ultras were seated, and put his hands behind his ears, as though trying to tell the fans that he could not hear them. Apparently, this goal celebration angered the fans who have been standing all night long.
The match eventually ended at 1-1 and the commotion grew louder. I met up with Paolo who tried to bring me into the press conference room. However, there was no way we could get in as security personnel were present to stop any angry fans from attacking the president, Claudio Lotito. He is not a popular figure at the moment. Paolo explained that Siviglia was booed because he was taunting the Lazio Ultras and apparently, he had chosen the wrong time to perform such an antic. The postgame tension had thus caused me to lose my chance to meet the president and all the players!
Paolo, who is such an amazing man, told me to wait outside the gates where the players would come out. He made a final attempt to grab the players to take a picture with me. From there, I could see members of the Irriducibile (Lazio Hardcore group) standing outside waiting for Siviglia. Police were everywhere and this Singaporean was freezing his ass off while waiting patiently for a picture with any Lazio player.
Just as I was giving up hope, Paolo emerged with Muslera (Lazio’s goalkeeper) and we were introduced. He is really friendly and we shook hands and had a photo taken. I was over the moon!
I later got to meet two other players, Matuzalem and the Swiss international defender, Stephan Lichtsteiner, who spoke English and even wished me ‘Good evening’. In addition, I was really struck by their humble and sincere attitude. Meeting three Lazio players in person and taking pictures with them is an experience in my life that I will never ever forget.
We went for supper with a group of Paolo’s friends after that. Win or lose, these people will meet up for a get-together after every home match. I was introduced to several Lazio’s Radio Deejays as Gan, the ‘Fan from
Nigel. (Laziale Singaporean)
Forza Lazio
First Half
Cagliari started brightly and within just 120 seconds Matri was set through on goal by Lazzari. With Lichtsteiner bearing down on him however the Rossoblu forward could only produce a weak low drive which was easily smothered by Carrizo.
Less than 60 seconds later however the home side took the lead. A mistimed pass by Lopez was intercepted by Mauri who gifted a wonderful through ball for Rocchi. The Lazio Captain wasted nothing as he charged toward goal and coolly slotted past Marchetti.
The away side wasted no time in restoring the score line and within two minutes a powerful cross by Lopez was headed home by Jeda. Lazio looked stunned as Cagliari demonstrated their ability to hit back at will.
With little time to get their breath back the home side were behind after Cagliari doubled their lead. Matri turned his marker in the box and produced a delightful chip into the path of Jeda, who headed home for his second.
Cagliari were a team possessed and looked likely to score on every attack. The home side were clearly finding it hard to get to grips with the attacking setup of Allegri’s side.
On 15 minutes Zarate almost levelled the scoring with a wonderful free-kick just on the edge of the 18 yard box. As the ball floated over the wall it skimmed past the side-netting to the delight of the Curva Nord who thought it had gone in.
The game was shaping up to be a thriller with both teams constantly threatening the opposing goals with their attack minded formations.
After twenty minutes Cagliari won a penalty when Carrizo downed Jeda in the box. A wonderful through ball by Conti had set Jeda through on goal, the Argentinean number 1 brought him down and referee Romero wasted no time in booking him as he pointed to the spot. Aquafresca stepped up to slide the ball coolly into the corner and gift his side an impressive early lead.
Just four minutes before the break Cagliari threw the sucker punch when Matri headed home to extended their tally to four. After some good work down the right the ball was floated in for a towering Matri who cleverly headed deep into the bottom corner. The away-side were cruising with the score an exact reverse of the opposite fixture.
Lazio were hurting as they poured forward looking to immediately hit back.
Within two minutes they had a golden chance after being awarded a penalty. Mauri went down after a contact from Marchetti and referee Romero pointed to the spot. It was proving clearly not to be Lazio’s day as when their captain stepped up and blasted wide of the post.
Shortly after the whistle blew for half-time and whilst the teams headed in for the break the Olimpico was amassed with whistles from the crowd. The Lazio faithful were clearly not happy with a first half-defensive display that left a lot to be desired. For Cagliari it was smiles all round, after having scored a third of their away goals this season, in just 45 minutes.
Second Half
After the re-start the home side had another golden chance to re-open the match when Rocchi was felled in the box after five minutes. This time he left the kick to Zarate but yet again Lazio failed to score as Marchetti saved the weak drive. Zarate went on to kick the post in disgust on what was proving to be a nightmare afternoon for the Biancocelesti.
Lazio were not going down without a fight, and just three minutes later Pandev went extremely close after some great solo work in the box. Marchetti was equal to the Macedonian’s chip-shot and there was little Lazio could do to force in the re-bound.
On 60 minutes a wonderful chip from Pandev served Zarate solo in the box. As the young Argentine controlled however the ball appeared to get stuck between his feet and his subsequent shot was just inches wide of the post.
In the final quarter Lazio continued to stream forward but Marchetti was proving prominent between the sticks as he kept the three goal gap between the sides.
With 15 minutes left to play Cagliari could have inflicted further embarrassment on the home side when Matri was set one on one toward Carrizo. Instead of rounding the keeper he attempted an ambitious drive which sprayed wide of the near post.
As the game drew to its conclusion the Isolani had little trouble in containing the home side’s efforts to pour forward. The heavy first-half scoreline had clearly proved decisive and Lazio were being forced to pay for some disastrous errors from the penalty spot.
When the whistle finally blew for full-time, Cagliari were left jubilant after their record win launched them to an impressive 10th in the standings. Lazio left the field deflated after a terrible day at the office that saw them drop to 9th, behind arch-rivals Roma for the first time this season.
Lazio (4-3-3): Carrizo, Lichtsteiner, Diakité (Cribari 45’), Rozehnal, Kolarov; Brocchi, Ledesma, Mauri (Foggia 75’); Pandev, Zarate, Rocchi (S.Inzaghi 68’)
Cagliari (4-3-1-2): Marchetti; Matheu, Lopez, Bianco, Pisano; Conti, Biondini (Parola 83’), Lazzari; Jeda (Larrivey 88’); Matri, Aquafresca (Fini 66’)
