Italy's Lazio crushes RI's Super Stars team 6-2

JAKARTA (JP): Italian serie A team Lazio proved too much for the Indonesian Super Stars soccer team, thrashing them 6-2 in a friendly match at the Senayan stadium yesterday.

Italian top scorer Giuseppe 'Beppe' Signori, who was the center of cheers from local fans, drew the first blood for Lazio in the 25th minute when he converted a pass from forward Roberto Rambaudi into an excellent goal.

In the 38th minute, Rambaudi, capitalizing on a cross from midfielder Marco Piovanelli, connected with a thundering shot that gave Lazio a 2-0 lead.

Two minutes later, Signori, driving the ball toward the Indonesian net, was felled by goalie Darryl Sinnerine from Petrokimia Putra as he attempted a charge down. Referee Khairul Agil awarded Signori a penalty shot with which he sent Indonesia behind 0-3.

Striker Dejan Glusevic from MBR Bandung failed to capitalize on the several chances at goal presented to him. He was unceremoniously benched by coach M Basri from PSM Ujungpandang.

Widodo C Putro from Petrokimia Putra came in for Glusevic in the 41st minute.

Glusevic was furious with the decision and stormed from the bench he was ordered to warm directly into the dressing room.

"I know that a player is disappointed when he is replaced. But Dejan was very slow during the match. I would have been crazy to let him play," Basri said after the match.

Two minutes before halftime, Widodo collected a cross from Gelora Dewata striker Brazilian Vata Matanu Garcia and shot it to Francesco Mancini's net.

After Signori was replaced by Alessandro Iannuzi, Massimiliano Esposito produced two quick goals for Lazio in the 65th and 68th minutes. Goalkeeper Kurnia Sandy, who replaced Sinnerine, was dazed by Esposito's tricky footwork.

Widodo, receiving the ball from Vata, dashed towards the net in the 28th minute. Lazio goalie Fernando Orsi, unable to react in time, watched the ball roll into his net.

"I was proud to score two goals in the match. Thanks to Vata for the beautiful cross," Widodo said after the game.

A minute before the match ended, Super Stars' defender Yeyen Tumena missed the ball sent by Giuseppe Favalli allowing it to trickle into the net to give Lazio its 6-2 victory.

About 40,000 fans shrugged off the Thomas Cup badminton championship final pitting Indonesia and Denmark to witness a match they would usually only be able to watch on television. (yan)