Game 4, Europa League Group Phase
Thursday, November 7, 2024
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Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Porto 2-1
Pedro scores in the dying seconds giving Lazio a prestigious win and first place in the Europa League table
The team
Usual turnover for Marco Baroni in Europe so the first eleven included Samuel Gigot, Christos Mandas, Loum Tchaouna, Adam Marusic and Pedro. Mattia Zaccagni came back from injury full time and Nuno Tavares debuted for Lazio in the Europa League as he had not played on Sunday due to suspension.
First half
In the seventh minute Tchaouna dispossessed Francisco Moura in the Lazio half and flew down the right, ball to Taty Castellanos who went into the box chased by Nehuen Perez. The Argentinian tried a shot which went over the crossbar. In the 21st minute Taty on the right crossed into the penalty area, Tchaouna was too far forward and the Porto defence cleared. Matias Vecino from 25 minutes tried a volley which kept low but Diogo Costa parried.
A spectacular game in the first half, high speed with the ball going backwards and forwards. In the 33rd minute Samu Omorodion on the counter attack. Once close to the box he passed the ball towards the right for Fabio Viera, the Porto player moved it to his left foot and sent a marvellous curling shot towards the Lazio goal which hit the crossbar. The Portuguese seemed to have the upper hand now and in the first minute of injury time Martim Fernandes crossed from the right, Omorodion was unmarked in a very favourable position but he missed the ball.
In the last second of injury time, corner for Lazio. Pedro crossed a high ball into the box, Castellanos headed it towards Vecino and Alessio Romagnoli both alone in the wilderness of the Porto defence, Diogo Costa moved towards them, the defender headed the ball towards the far post, Lazio 1 Porto 0.
Second half
Porto were forced to attack and the Biancocelesti pulled back a bit. In the 53rd minute a Tiago Djalo shot from outside the penalty box went too high. The Portuguese were not creating much so manager Vitor Bruno made three changes: in came Joāo Mario, Nico Gonzalez and Pepe for Martim Fernandes, Alan Varela and Danny Namaso. This changed the game and Porto were a lot more dangerous especially with Pepe. In the 63rd minute Fabio Viera to Stephen Eustaquio in the box but Pedro with a marvellous defensive play put the ball into corner. Three minutes later Fabio Viera to Galeno, splendid low cross to the middle of the box and Eustaquio equalised.
Baroni at this point made three substitutions: Boulaye Dia, Nicolò Rovella and Mario Gila for Castellanos, Tchaouna and Gigot. The Biancocelesti needed to get back into the game and they did.
In the 68th minute Pedro crossed from the right, Vecino moved well but mistimed the header that went wide.
Two more changes, one each: Gustav Isaksen for Zaccagni and Deniz Gul for Omorodion. Towards the end of the match, space also for Ansrè Franco and Luca Pellegrini who substituted Fabio Viera for Porto and Nuno Tavares for Lazio.
Lazio had more control of the ball and pushed forward, Porto however were always potentially dangerous on the counter attack. In the 86th minute a Moura cross beat Mandas but Romagnoli managed to anticipate Nico Gonzalez.
In the last second of the game, Isaksen crossed into the box from the right. Too high for Dia and Vecino but behind them came Pedro who controlled the ball and put it in the back of the net.
Delirium at the Olimpico. Highlander Pedro once more scored in the dying seconds of the match, just like he did last year at Celtic Park. Lazio are now solitary leaders of the Europa League table.
Who played for Lazio
Mandas, Marusic, Gigot (66' Gila), Romagnoli, Nuno Tavares (88' Pellegrini), Guendouzi, Vecino; Tchaouna (66' Rovella), Pedro, Zaccagni (71' Isaksen), Castellanos (66' Dia)
Substitutes: Provedel, Furlanetto, Lazzari, Dele-Bashiru
Manager: Baroni
Who played for Porto
Diogo Costa, Martim Fernandes (62' Joao Mario), Nehuen Perez, Djalò, Francisco Moura, Varela (62' Nico Gonzalez), Eustaquio, Fabio Vieira (84' Ansrè Franco), Namaso (62' Pepe), Galeno, Samu (76' Gul)
Substitutes: Claudio Ramos, Otavio, Vasco Sousa, Fran Navarro, Goncalo Borges, Rodrigo Mora, Ze Pedro
Manager: Bruno
Referee: Kabakov (Bulgaria)
Goals: 45'+5' Romagnoli, 66' Eustachio, 90'+2' Pedro
Booked: Gigot (L), Namaso (P), Zaccagni (L), Samu (P), Nehuen Perez (P), Djalò (P), Guendouzi (L), Pepe (P)
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