Five goals, the mandatory Roman red cards and torrential rain; made the first Derby della Capitale of the season once again, albeit unsurprisngly, a classic.

Thirty minutes before kick off, the superstorm, Sandy, which cause havoc in the East coast of America, subjected the Stadio Olimpico to a torrential down pour. Just five minutes after kick off, the effect of the weather were felt inside the ground as a number of floodlights failed, halting the game.

However, this interruption did not halt the early pressure from A.S Roma as Lamela was able to head his side into the lead on the ninth minute. Francesco Totti's majestic corner kick found Lamela at the back post, where he was able to thunder in his sixth goal in as many games, after a slight push on Lulic which was not spotted by the referee.

Lazio came back strongly after this goal, their midfield began to nullify the threat of Roma's midfield runners and get the prophet Hernanes on the ball. The designated home sides for sight of goal came twenty minutes into the game. A cross by Konko from the right wing was met by German international Klose, who rose above Burdisso to head the ball goal-ward. Goicoechea, Roma's stand in goalkeeper, however, was on hand to tip the ball away from the bottom left hand corner.

Whilst Goicoechea was the saviour on this occasion, he was the sinner when the Biancocelesti did draw level. Lazio were gifted a goal by the Roma man on the 35th minute, when Candreva's powerful 30 yard costless kick was punched into the top corner by the keeper.

The increasingly heavy rain, corresponded with Lazio's growing dominance in the game and a great chance went begging for the home side soon after their opening goal. A sublime break on the right hand side by Candreva, after a Roma corner kick, led to an opening for Klose just outside the penalty area; but his side footed effort narrowly missed the top right hand corner.

Klose was by no means disheartened by this miss, and with two minutes left in the first half, he gave the Biancocelesti the lead. After a patent jinking run by Hernanes through the entire Roma midfield, the prophet's cross/shot fell at the feet of Klose inside the six yard box. His side footed finish left Goicoechea with little hope in goal, and in typical Zemanlandia fashion; Roma threw away their lead.

To make matters worse for Zeman and his Giallorossi side, the influential De Rossi was sent off in first half stoppage time, after an embarassing left hook to the face of Mauri.

Lazio began the second half in similar fashion to how they ended the first; Petkovic sent his side out to grab an early goal and kill the game, and they did just that. Just one minute after the interval, a careless Ivan Piris clearing header, instead of finding touch or a teammate; found the on rushing Stefano Mauri who drilled a low shot into the bottom corner from just outside the penalty area.

The Biancocelesti's pressed for a fourth after this goal and if not for Goicoechea in goal; the scoreline would have been embarrassing for the Romanista. Hernanes' deflected long range effort looked a certain goal but for the Bert William's-esque reflexes of the Roma goalkeeper.

Although Lazio had complete control of proceedings, Osvaldo missed a glorious opportunity to bring A.S Roma within touching distance of their bitter rivals. The Italian international found himself unmarked inside the six yard box from a Totti corner kick; but his header was miserably ballooned over the bar.

Just as all hope of a comeback looked lost; Mauri was, rather harshly, given a second yellow for a handball and sent off. From the resulting costless kick, substitute Pjanic noticed Marchetti wondering off his line, and chipped the Lazio keeper direct from the costless kick from a solid 50 yards.

Roma were given one last opportunity to snatch a point at the death, but once again Osvaldo fluffed his lines. Bradley's cross field ball fom right to left, fell to Osvaldo inside the penalty area; however, the effort that had to made to make contact with the ball decimated the accuracy of the shot and the ball flew harmlessly wide.

This victory leaves Lazio fifth, five points ahead of Roma in the Serie A table, and Zeman clinging for dear life in the Roma dugout

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About the author
Jack  Gallagher
Member of the VAVEL writing team since June 2012, and became editor-in-chief of the UK edition in June 2013. English and History at QUB.