Europa League | Ajax 1-3 Lazio: Magnificent Eagles soar in Amsterdam

Lazio are guaranteed a place in the Europa League Round of 16 after their confident 3-1 victory away to Ajax, with Loum Tchaouna, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and a Pedro stunner.

The Aquile had won every game in the tournament until their controversial 0-0 with Ludogorets, where a clear penalty was denied even after the VAR review. Alessio Romagnoli and Matias Vecino were injured, while their fans were not allowed in the Johan Cruijff ArenA because of security fears. Francesco Farioli’s Ajax had Owen Wijndal suspended, Davy Klaassen, Sivert Mannsverk, Amourricho Van Axel-Dongen, Gaston Avila and ex-Roma midfielder Benjamin Tahirovic out of action.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Bertrand Traoré curled wide and Taty Castellanos almost pounced on a weak Youri Baas back-pass, which was only a warning for the opening goal.

Boulaye Dia forced Kenneth Taylor into a misplaced pass in midfield, allowing Castellanos to send Tchaouna onto a through ball to beat Remko Pasveer one-on-one.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – DECEMBER 12: Loum Tchaouna of SS Lazio celebrates a opening goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between AFC Ajax and S.S. Lazio at Johan Cruijff Arena on December 12, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Brian Brobbey mistimed the jump to nod wide on an Ajax corner kick routine, but Castellanos almost intercepted another awful Baas back-pass, as Pasveer just about managed to clear.

A Castellanos snapshot and Brobbey header both skimmed the upright, but Ajax equalised straight after the restart.

Luca Pellegrini cleared Taylor’s header off the line from a free kick, then could do nothing as Traore blasted the rebound into the near top corner from 10 yards.

Lazio restored their advantage within five minutes, as substitute Mattia Zaccagni got down the left and flashed a ball across the face of goal for Dele-Bashiru at the back post, Pasveer unable to claw it off the line.

Pasveer kept his team in it with a double save on Tchaouna’s solo run and the – offside – Castellanos follow-up, while Luca Pellegrini almost gifted Brobbey a goal with an ill-advised cushioned chest back to his goalkeeper.

Lazio further extended their lead in Amsterdam with a spectacular goal. Nuno Tavares – who came on for injured Pellegrini – started the run from his own half, his pass found a cheeky Tchaouna back-heel flick to set up the stunning Pedro sweep into the far top corner from the edge of the area with the inside of the left boot.

Castellanos should’ve made it 4-1 only to see his dinked finish denied by an outstretched Pasveer hand, then Traore saw his curler smack against the crossbar, followed swiftly by a great Mandas reaction save on Chuba Akpom from close range.

Akpom also steered a free header wide from six yards and in stoppages the Gaaei cross-shot hit the frame of the Lazio goal.

Tchaouna 12 (L), Traore 47 (A), Dele-Bashiru 52 (L), Pedro 77 (L)

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