Parma 2 Lazio 0
Conceicao 10', Lamouchi 94'

I'm puzzled about how I feel about this game. Wonderful that we won; wonderful that we knocked spots off the opposition and DESERVED to win - but I still don't reckon we're that good. We looked good in bits - but not good enough to even consider that scudetto, imhonestbutho. We had more oomph than we had on Thursday for sure - but still nowhere near enough. And considering that Lazio were undeniably poor - I cannot get excited about this result.

What a misery I am!!

The game went like this. Crespo and Dino were both presented with plates pre kickoff. Neither of them looked very happy about that. Lazio were playing a much weakened team. No Mihailovic or Veron. No S Inzaghi or, of course (and fortunately) Lopez. Considering our missing strikers, I guess that made us about even. However, it was obvious from early on in the game that Crespo and Salas up front for Lazio were never going to get the service they needed. No midfield, you see. We have their midfield - they have Baggio!!! :))

Conceicao scored on 10 minutes. Nice work from Amoroso - nice, nice pass and Sergio was in and lobbing the ball over Peruzzi. Conceicao refused to celebrate. Why? Because the goal was against his old team? That's taking sportsmanship a bit far, don't you think?? He is a Parma player now - he should've been really delighted to have scored - and he should've shown in, darn and blast him!! :) Lazio continued to fluster around the entire first half. Never really were they in the game - their fans making that known to them - and especially Eriksson, by holding up "Eriksson must go" banners.

We nearly scored again on 58 minutes. Conceicao doing some great running and weaving stuff and providing a pin-point pass to Amoroso. Peruzzi made a good save - but perhaps Marcio should've done better. We then had a strong penalty claim on 66 minutes, when Dino pushed at Boghossian in the area. Nothing doing from the ref (who had a terrible game). Lazio appeared to come to life when they substituted Baggio with Ravanelli. He only went and scored with a great diving header - but this was ruled offside (as Crespo had been in an offside position; although not Ravanelli - a bit contentious that one). They were looking dangerous. We still dominated and should've had at least 2 or 3 more goals, but Amoroso squandered each opportunity presented to him. Even after Fernando Couto had been sent off on 86 (for 2 yellow cards) it still seemed highly possible that they might get that equaliser as the game was now very open. Only on 94 minutes, when Lamouchi performed some sweet manoeuvering past the Lazio defence and shot hard and low past Peruzzi to make it 2-0, did I relax and sit back in my seat.

We deserved the victory; no doubt. But Lazio were not formidable opposition this afternoon and I hope this won't give the team false confidence. It's all very tight at the top of the table though - could be an exciting season!


Teams

Parma (3-4-1-2): Buffon 6,5, Thuram 6, Torrisi 6, F.Cannavaro 6, Fuser 6,5, Almeyda 6,5 (29' st Sensini 6), Boghossian 6, Lamouchi 7,5 , Falsini 6 (34' st Benarrivo sv), Conceicao 7,5, Amoroso 6,5(47' st Micoud sv). (99 Guardalben, 2 Sartor, 4 Appiah, 26 Montano). Coach: Malesani 6,5.

Lazio (4-4-2): Peruzzi 7, Pancaro 6, Nesta 5, Couto 4,5, Favalli 4,5, Lombardo 5 (12' st Baronio 6), D.Baggio 5,5 (24' st Ravanelli 6,5), Simeone 5 (12' st Stankovic 5), Nedved 6, Crespo 4,5, Salas 5,5. (1 Marchegiani, 17 Gottardi, 33 Colonnese, 16 Pesaresi). Coach: Eriksson 5,5.
Referee: Rosetti of Torino 5,5.
Sent off: 41' st Couto (2nd yellow)
Booked: Baggio, Favalli, Almeyda
Crowd: about 24.000