Serie A: Lazio shocked in 2-1 defeat at Cesena
Sunday 1 February 2015 18:06, UK
Serie A strugglers Cesena caused an upset on Sunday after beating Lazio 2-1 at home to win two games in a row for the first time this season.
The hosts, who had beaten Parma 2-1 last time out to halt an 18-match winless run in the league, went ahead thanks to Gregoire Defrel's 60th-minute strike before doubling their lead through Danilo Cataldi's own goal with 13 minutes remaining.
German forward Miroslav Klose handed Lazio a lifeline three minutes from time but the visitors could not find an equaliser and lost for the seventh time this season.
The result leaves Lazio in fourth place, five points adrift of third-place Napoli, while Cesena remain in the relegation zone but move to within four points of safety.
The Romans went into the game at the Dino Manuzzi stadium looking to make it three wins in a row in Serie A but having to do without pivotal duo Lorik Cana and Lucas Biglia through suspension as well as injured striker Filip Djordjevic.
Despite that though, the visitors dominated the opening half and were unlucky not to take a lead into the break with Cesena goalkeeper Nicola Leali making crucial saves to twice deny Antonio Candreva and Marco Parolo.
The home side showed more determination after the re-start and went in front when Defrel found space and drilled a 25-yard strike into the top right corner of the net past Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti.
Shortly after, Marchetti was forced to fully stretch to clear Defrel's bullet strike from outside the area.
Marchetti could do nothing, though, as Cesena made it 2-0 in the 77th minute after Defrel's dangerous cross into the area was deflected by Cataldi into his own net.
That was a major blow for Lazio but they fought back and Klose pulled a goal back after Cesena failed to clear a ball into the box, the veteran striker firing a right-footed volley past a helpless Leali.
Lazio pushed forward in search of the equaliser as time ran out but the hosts, who defended deeply to deny space to the visiting forwards, held on for three valuable points in their battle to avoid the drop.
