Poker is served. Lazio made it four out of four by beating Porto and booked a place in the Europa League round of 16.
At the final whistle the Biancocelesti can smile not only for the goal by Pedro, once again a man of providence with time almost up for a 2-1 which nullifies Eustaquio’s equalizer which came after Romagnoli’s lead, but also for having maintained the first place in the standings, the only one with full points after four days.
The match is balanced from the start, neither of them thinks about defending themselves and it is the spectacle that benefits. Castellanos gave the first emotion by scoring with a right-footed shot to the long post, but shooting from an offside position.
Lazio fails to break through, first Guendouzi and then Vecino try from outside, without success. But Porto does not stand by and makes itself dangerous especially on the counterattack, often catching Lazio from behind.
And it was the Portuguese who came closest to scoring when Fabio Vieira, shortly after half an hour of play, found a left-footed shot which went past Mandas but hit the post, making all the Biancoceleste people breathe a sigh of relief. Once the fear was over, Lazio began pushing again, finding the goal when the entire Olimpico was ready to take a quarter of an hour’s respite. The goal comes from a corner with Castellanos acting as a buffer and Romagnoli scoring, making the ball kiss the crossbar before inflating the net.
No changes at half-time, the second half opens with Porto looking for an equalizer and Lazio defending the result without running any major dangers until the 20th minute of the second half when Galeno runs down the wing and crosses backwards for the onrushing Eustaquio who, flat, he beats Mandas for the equalizer. The goal unlocks the second half, Vecino comes close to doubling the immediate lead with his head, Baroni tries to win it by inserting Dia and Isaksen forward, but the right man at the right time is once again Pedro with the former Barcelona player who is found in the area on the Isaksen’s cross mocks Diogo Costa and sends the Biancocelesti flying with time practically up. A success, that of Lazio, which allows Baroni’s men to maintain their lead – the only team to collect only victories in this Europa League – and the coach to play poker in the first four matches, a feat only achieved by Inzaghi before him. As well as putting a foot and a half into the round of 16 without going through to the playoffs with the already concrete possibility of booking the direct elimination round when the Bulgarians of Ludogorets arrive at the Olimpico next day.
Reproduction reserved © -
