BBC SPORT | Football | Europe (original) (raw)

Boudewijn Zenden scored twice as Middlesbrough deservedly beat Lazio to take a huge step towards qualifying from their Uefa Cup group.

Zenden volleyed home Fernando Couto's poor clearance from the edge of the area for his first after 16 minutes.

Ray Parlour, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Stewart Downing all went close, while Fabrizio Casazza made several good saves in the Lazio goal.

But Zenden's close-range header secured the points for the home team.

It was no less than Boro deserved after a dominant performance against a team who are a pale imitation of their former selves.

The cash-strapped Italian side - no longer boasting a plethora of world-class players - squandered possession far too easily.

Boro, though, are a team on the rise and are clearly relishing their first European campaign and performing in front of a full house at the Riverside.

Steve McClaren's team have now won both their group games and - with three sides qualifying - have one foot in the next round.

Lazio settled quickly, working the ball upfield with some superb one-touch football.

And they were the first to threaten, an awful touch from Franck Queudrue allowing Cesar to pick out Antonio Filippini - only for the Lazio midfielder to shoot narrowly wide.

The visitors thought play had stopped after 10 minutes when Guiliano Giannichedda went to ground after twisting his ankle.

But the whistle had not gone and Ray Parlour forced a good save from Lazio's third-choice keeper Casazza, who was making his debut for the club.

Paolo di Canio then forced a save from Mark Schwarzer with a speculative strike before Boro broke the deadlock.

Veteran defender Couto should have cleared Downing's cross but only succeeded in guiding the ball to the edge of the area, allowing Zenden to capitalise with his superb volley.

The visitors - with defensive shield Giannichedda unable to return - seemed rattled and nervous at the back.

Boro, in contrast, poured forward, Mark Viduka going close with a spectacular overhead volley, while Queudrue and Downing both shot wide of Casazza's goal.

Lazio offered virtually nothing for the remainder of the half, while Boro continued to threaten and Parlour went close with a blistering drive that flew narrowly over the crossbar.

Viduka held off two Lazio players shortly after the break but shot well wide from a tight angle, while the impressive Downing continued to threaten.

The 20-year-old skimmed the crossbar with a cross after 54 minutes, although his curling cross had drifted out of play, and shortly afterwards he cut inside and struck the ball just wide.

Downing - increasingly influential - crossed for Zenden and he, unmarked at the far post, headed home from close range.

Viduka shot just wide and Hasselbaink could not quite find the final touch as Boro threatened to run riot against their ordinary opponents.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, McMahon, Southgate, Riggott, Queudrue, Parlour, Boateng, Zenden, Downing, Hasselbaink (Job 81), Viduka.
Subs Not Used: Nash, Cooper, Doriva, Morrison, Wilson, Davies.

Goals: Zenden 16, 71.

Lazio: Casazza, Oddo, Oscar Lopez, Couto, Seric, Antonio Filippini, Dabo, Giannichedda (Melara 14), Cesar (Manfredini 64), Di Canio, Delgado (Rocchi 50).
Subs Not Used: De Angelis, Pandev, Sannibale, Torroni.

Att: 33,991

Ref: Yuri Baskakov (Russia).

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