On this day, one year ago, Lazio were crowned the 2017 Supercoppa Italiana Champions after defeating Juventus 3-2 at the Stadio Olimpico. It’s crazy that it has already been a year since this great victory, so let’s look back at what happened in that action packed final one year ago.
The stage was set at the Stadio Olimpico, Juventus already looked the favorites to win the Supercoppa Italiana as they won the Scudetto and already defeated Lazio in the Coppa Italia Final a few months prior. Lazio came off a decent 2016/17 season with the rise of Ciro Immobile as the star man of the squad and Lazio getting back into European competitions with them qualifying for next season’s (2017/18) Europa League. Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva had just been added to Lazio’s squad in the summer transfer window and could possibly have the chance of already winning a trophy with his new club in Italy.
After all the talk in the press in the week leading up to the match, Davide Massa blew his whistle and the game kicked-off. Juventus already looked dangerous early in the game with a couple of opportunities in Lazio’s box. The score was still tied at 0-0 until Lazio’s star signing from Sevilla, Immobile, got into the box and was taken down by Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon. The official pointed to the spot and two types of screaming filled the stadium. Screams of joy knowing Lazio could take the lead and screams of rage at the match official for calling a penalty. Either way the decision was final. Ciro Immobile stepped up to the spot looking straight at his Italian national teammate waiting for the official to blow his whistle. Seconds later Immobile placed the ball past Buffon and Lazio had the early lead.
The second half began, with Lazio continuing their success by doubling the lead as Marco Parolo sent a cross into the box which found the head of Ciro Immobile. With about ten minutes left in the game Lazio now looked like they were the clear champions of this trophy. But then the comeback. Paolo Dybala sunk one past Thomas Strakosha off a gorgeous free-kick. This caused worry for the Biancocelesti as they started to look shaky, and the amount of stoppage time left meant Juventus still had plenty of time to equalize and send this game to extra time and possibly penalties. One minute into stoppage time another penalty was given, this time against Lazio causing chaos in the stadium as Lazio fans were infuriated about the referee’s decision. Once again Dybala got on the score sheet as he slotted the ball past Strakosha making the score 2-2. Heartbreak for Lazio.
However, this heartbreak was short-lived, as an unlikely hero emerged just two minutes after Juventus equalized. Jordon Lukaku made a beautiful individual run past Mattia De Sciglio sending the ball across the face of Juventus’ goal only to find the foot of Lazio’s Italian youngster Alessandro Murgia who slotted the ball past Gianluigi Buffon, ultimately winning the match for the Biancocelesti.
August 13th, 2017: a day that Lazio fans will never forget, a day that Lazio made history.
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