Lazio Roma has – mind you after a very weak start to the season – made contact with the international places. Leader Ciro Immobile scored from the spot with the last action of the game in a 1-0 win over top-ranked Fiorentina
While Romans most recently suffered their first defeat of the Champions League season in a 3-1 loss at Rotterdam the previous week, Florence had dispatched Cukaricki Belgrade 6-0 in the Conference League on Thursday.
Both coaches rotated back neatly compared to the international games. Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri made four changes (Lazzari, Patric, Guendouzi and Castellanos in place of Hysaj, Casale, Vecino and Immobile), while his counterpart Vincenzo Italiano made six (Milenkovic, Biraghi, Arthur, Duncan, Gonzalez and Bonaventura for Kayode, Ranieri, Lopez, Mandragora, Barak and Kouamé).
Beltran goal conceded by VAR
In this final match of the 10th Serie A matchday, Lazio and Fiorentina largely neutralized each other in the first half. Only in a wild five minutes did both teams radiate scoring danger. After Lazio captain Luis Alberto had only hit the outside of the net (12.), Beltran practically scored on the counterattack for the supposed lead (13.). But because the attacker had taken the ball with his left upper arm beforehand, referee Matteo Marcenaro took the goal back after VAR intervention.
A short time later, Beltran almost went off to cheer again, but this time he only headed against the post (17.). Because the teams had acted too ponderously in the aftermath, the Stadio Olimpico went into the dressing rooms goalless, accompanied by whistles.
Milenkovic too clumsy
After the restart, the home Biancocelesti improved a bit, but missed the lead three times: Felipe Anderson (57th) and Luis Alberto (65th) failed to beat Terracciano, Vecino missed (83rd). There were many signs of a goalless draw – until the third minute of stoppage time. Milenkovic got the ball on his outstretched arm in his own sixteen, whereupon referee Marcenaro immediately pointed to the spot.
Immobile, who had been substituted earlier, took responsibility and was the match-winner (90.+5.). While the actual captain celebrated with tears in his eyes – the home fans frequently chanted his name – the referee blew the whistle.
The win vaulted the Romans into seventh place, just one point behind sixth-place Fiorentina at that point, with Champions League fourth only three points away despite the initial Serie A false start.
For the Viola, the action continues with a home game against Juventus on Sunday (8:45 p.m.), while Lazio is up against Bologna on Friday (8:45 p.m.).
