In an entertaining game at the Granillo a superb hat-trick by Goran Pandev gifted Lazio a great start to the New Year.

Reggina 2-3 Lazio

The home side were looking to build on their away draw with Cagliari and gift their new Coach Beppe Pillon his first win of the season.
Delio Rossi’s men who were hoping to stay in contention with the top 6 on their quest for Europe were without Stephan Lichtsteiner who was forced to sit out with an on-going ankle sprain.

First Half

The home side started brightly, and within just 120 seconds Brienza was set through on the Lazio box and then upended by an advancing Carrizo. Although the Argentinean appeared to make contact with the ball referee Bergonzi had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Bernardo Corradi stepped up for the subsequent spot-kick and fired a powerful drive down the middle to score against his former club and gift the home side an early lead.

Lazio looked stunned, but immediately poured forward as they looked to get back on level terms. Some good work by Meghni on 12 minutes produced a golden chance for Pandev to fire from close range, but Campagnolo was equal to the shot and put the danger out for a corner.

Less than a minute later however the Macedonian got the away side back on level terms. After stealing possession within the Reggina half he turned his marker a fired a powerful drive over a stranded Campagnolo. His shot took a cruel deflection on the way in which left the Reggina keeper with little chance to save.

On 21 minutes Lazio took the lead in splendid fashion. After some sublime solo play, Zarate produced a wonderful chip into the box which landed on the chest of Pandev. The Macedonian spun round to unleash a close range drive into the bottom corner doubling his and Lazio’s tally after their difficult opening.

On the half hour mark Zarate showed his fine form following the Christmas break with a mazy run within the Reggina half. After skipping past his marker he offloaded to Meghni on the left but the Algerian’s cross was too long for the reach of Pandev.

The away side were showing far more hunger and as the whistle blew for half time, it was arguably Lazio’s best first half performance of the campaign so far. Whilst Reggina had started extremely well they could do little to hold off the advances of the away side, given their superior pace on the counter attack.

Second Half

The second half started just as the first with the home side on an immediate assault at the Lazio box. This time however the Biancocelesti managed to clear their lines, and gradually started to maintain superior possession.

The away side were taking control as they started to pour forward with their attacking trident a constant menace in and around the Reggina box.

On 60 minutes Zarate floated a delightful ball into the box for Rocchi who controlled well just metres from the goal. The Lazio Captain ran out of pitch however before he could only shoot into the side netting.

It was Reggina who found the back of the net however on 62 minutes, when a searching cross from the right found Cozza with little to do, but tap in from close range. Lazio had quite literally fallen asleep momentarily, and they were made to pay dearly by relinquishing their lead.

The Amaranto appeared to have renewed belief as the pushed forward in search of victory. On 68 minutes they could have re-taken the lead when a set of passes were sent in and around the Lazio box caused extreme difficulty for the Lazio defence who were appearing ever shakier. 

Despite this it was Lazio who re-gained the lead on 76 minutes when Pandev completed his hat-trick. A trademark dribble on the left from Zarate was followed by a delightful cut-back into the box. The pass was met by an advancing Pandev who fired home, sending the travelling fans into immediate frenzy.

Shortly after the goal, Delio Rossi looked to consolidate by removing the influential Zarate, and introducing Foggia to give more cover to the midfield three.

As the clock ran down the home side continued to search for an equaliser, as they built increasing pressure on the Lazio backline. Delio Rossi’s men were still more than suspect at the back but managed to hold out the Reggina assault.

When the whistle blew for full time Lazio celebrated a hard fought victory that left them just three points off fourth and very much in the hunt for the Champions league spots. Reggina were left to rue their missed opportunities as they remained stuck just three points from the bottom of the table, and very much in a relegation dogfight.

Goals:

4’Corradi (R)                                                                                                                       

14’,21’,76’Pandev (L)                                                                                                                        

63’Cozza (R)

Teams

Reggina (4-4-2): Campagnolo; Cirillo, Lanzaro, Santos, Costa (Cozza 53’); Sestu (Di Gennaro 86’), Baretto, Tognozzi (Viola 55’), Barillà; Corradi, Brienza

Lazio (4-3-3): Carrizo, De Silvestri, Diakité, Rozehnal, Radu; Dabo (Brocchi 66’), Ledesma, Meghni (Mauri 74’); Pandev, Zarate (Foggia 80’), Rocchi

I would like to say Merry Christmas to all orthodox Christians.

Christmas is celebrated by Orthodox Christians in Central and Eastern Europe and throughout the world on the 7th of January.

Some Orthodox churches have Christmas on January 7 because they follow the old Julian calendar. In the 16th century, Pope Gregory of Rome reformed the calendar, and so Western Christmas is on December 25.

Goran Pandev's agent Carlo Pallavicino has rubbished reports linking his client with a move to Chelsea and he insists the Macedonian hit-man will not be swapping Lazio for London...

Reports in both England and Italy claimed Chelsea were looking at Pandev as a possible signing for the future, with the Daily Mirror suggesting the Blues were ready to lure the striker to Stamford Bridge.

Pallavicino has heard of the reported interest in his client and he has slammed the door on a possible move as well as deny the speculation.

"The news is without foundation," Pallavicino told Noiaquilebiancocelesti.com.

"There is nothing to say on this matter as well as a contract renewal seeing that for the moment, there are no appointments in our agenda."

The Biancocelesti are currently four points of the pace in Serie A as they travel to the Stadio Bentegodi later tonight to take on Chievo Verona.

Pandev is likely to start for Lazio but a move to Chelsea is not following his agent's latest revelations.