Miroslav Klose struck a stoppage-time winner as Lazio
beat 10-man Roma in the Eternal City derby.
The Biancoceleste had lost their previous five meetings
with Roma - four under current coach Edy Reja - and
this match looked to be heading the same way in the
electric atmosphere of the Stadio Olimpico when Pablo
Osvaldo gave Roma a fifth-minute lead.
But Hernanes equalised five minutes into the second
half from the penalty spot after Simon Kjaer brought
down Christian Brocchi, the defender shown a straight
red card.
Klose was then denied by the crossbar and team-mate
Djibril Cisse's volley rebounded off the post with seven
minutes to go, but there was still time for a dramatic
winner and for Lazio to stop the rot against their city
rivals.
The win moved Reja's Lazio up to fourth in the Serie
A standings, just one point behind leaders Juventus.
Roma coach Luis Enrique, experiencing his first derby,
was without injured captain Francesco Totti and fielded
Miralem Pjanic in support of Bojan and Osvaldo.
Roma, playing as visitors, could not have asked for
a better start.
Pjanic fed Osvaldo inside the area and the Italy international
took it down on his chest before firing a right-footed
shot past Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti.
Lazio reacted and Hernanes found Klose inside the area
but he fired wide from a good position.
Midway through the first half, Roma goalkeeper Maarten
Stekelenburg came off his line to clear Cisse's dangerous
cross towards an unmarked Klose.
Lazio continued to press forward and Stekelenburg did
well to keep out Hernanes' 30-yard bullet strike before
half-time.
The hosts' efforts paid off in the 50th minute when
referee Paolo Tagliavento pointed to the spot after
Kjaer fouled Brocchi, earning the Dane a straight red
card.
Hernanes made no mistake with the spot-kick, placing
it out of the reach of Stekelenburg.
The goal inspired Lazio, who almost went in front soon
afterwards when Hernanes fed Klose and he hit his shot
just wide of the far post.
Lazio continued to look for the winner and Roma were
forced to defend deeply.
In the 70th minute, Klose got his head to Cristian
Ledesma's corner and his effort beat Stekelenburg but
struck the crossbar.
Lazio kept the pressure on as Cisse threatened but
he saw his right-footed volley hit the woodwork.
However, Reja's men received their reward in stoppage
time when Matuzalem passed the ball into the area for
Klose to fire past Stekelenburg.
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