Round of 16, Europa League, First Leg
Thursday, March 6, 2025
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Města Plzně Stadium, Plzeň
Viktoria Plzen-Lazio 1-2
Down to nine men, Isaksen scores a beauty in the 98th minute to give Lazio an epic win
The team
Marco Baroni was forced to leave Mattia Zaccagni at home as the Lazio forward had a few niggling problems. He also decided to give Mario Gila a game’s rest. Hence space for Samuel Gigot and Tijani Noslin. He also put Ivan Provedel back in goal for the Europa League.
The pitch was in a terrible condition, not apt for a professional game. But still, the show must go on.
First half
The match got lively after ten minutes when Viktoria Plzen scored with Pavel Sulc but after a long VAR check, both Sulc and Sampson Dweh were considered offside and the goal was not given. From a possible 0-1 down, Lazio went 1-0 up. In the 18th minute Pedro took a corner, long high ball in the box, Noslin headed towards the far post where Alessio Romagnoli was there to comfortably head the ball in.
Lazio were in complete control and Boulaye Dia had a chance in the 28th minute but from a difficult position and his shot was saved by the keeper. Three minutes later a bad pass back to Martin Jedlicka by Vaclav Jemelka, Gustav Isaksen went for it but in front of the keeper he fumbled and the incredible chance for 2-0 was wasted.
Not much else happened in the first 45 minutes as the Biancocelesti were in charge with Plzen a bit subdued and trying extremely difficult moves.
Second half
Viktoria Plzen much better in the second half and Lazio lost control of the game. After Amar Memic wasted a chance in the 48th minute, in the 53rd they equalised. Free kick on the left, Lukas Kalvach crossed, the Biancoceleste defence tried to catch them in off side but failed, Rafiu Durosinmi found himself completely unmarked two metres from the goal and headed the ball past Provedel who had come out hoping to distract the forward.
The Czechs became rampant and Lazio were in trouble. Baroni took off Nuno Tavares and in came Manuel Lazzari. In the 56th minute Durosinmi had a chance but Adam Marusic first managed to block the Nigerian forward, then he walled a shot, ball to Sulc who tried again and Provedel saved.
More substitutions for Lazio: out went Pedro and Noslin, in came Loum Tchaouna and Matias Vecino. In the 66th minute Sulc sent a high ball into the box from the left but just as Memic was about to head it in Provedel managed to anticipate him and slap the ball away.
The situation was grim and it got grimmer in the 74th minute when Nicolò Rovella accidently kicked Lukas Cerv in the head. He first got a yellow card but VAR called the referee who changed his mind and sent him off. Baroni replaced Dia with Patric and Viktoria threw in Jiri Panos for Cerv. They later substituted Durosinmi and Memic with Prince Kwabena Abu and Jan Kopic.
In the 92nd minute Gigot went forward, ball to Isaksen who tried a shot or cross which went right across the Czech penalty area but there was nobody there for the tap in. On the attempted counter attack, the French defender in trying to stop the Czechs committed a bad foul on Cadu and the ref took out another red. Lazio down to 9 men and in serious trouble.
In the 95th minute corner for Plzen. Matej Vydra on the front post tried to surprise Provedel who miraculously managed to parry his header. A few seconds later another cross in the box, ball not cleared, Adu tried a shot that was central and no problem for the Biancoceleste keeper.
98th minute. Lazio with the ball. Matteo Guendouzi on the right in the Czech half close to the box, ball to Isaksen who turned around and shot. A beautiful curling ball, like at Napoli, which beat Jedlicka on the far post.
A miracle. Fantastic goal and epic win.
Who played for Viktoria Plzen
Jedlicka, Dweh, Markovic, Jemelka, Memic (84' Kopic), Cerv (80' Panos), Kalvach, Cadu, Vydra, Sulc, Durosinmi (85' Adu)
Substitutes: Tvrdon, Baier, Paluska, Sojca, Doski, Havel, Valenta, Vasulin
Manager: Koubek
Who played for Lazio
Provedel, Marusic, Gigot, Romagnoli, Nuno Tavares (55' Lazzari), Guendouzi, Rovella, Isaksen, Pedro (62' Vecino), Noslin (62' Tchaouna), Dia (82' Patric)
Substitutes: Mandas, Furlanetto, Gila, Milani, Nazzaro, Serra
Manager: Baroni
Referee: Rumšas (Lithuania)
Goals: 18' Romagnoli, 53' Durosinmi, 90'+8' Isaksen
Booked: Kalvach (V), Vecino (L), Cadu (V), Cerv (V), Patric (L)
Red card: Rovella, Gigot
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