Late drama saw Lazio snatch all three points in their clash with Fiorentina after Ciro Immobile buried a 95th minute penalty.
The Biancocelesti had finally started to find a run of form after their slow start to the season, but the 3-1 defeat to Feyenoord in the Champions League last week threatened to throw the ship off course, concerning coach Maurizio Sarri and president Claudio Lotito.
Fiorentina have been playing well since the start of the season and currently find themselves involved in the race for European qualification. They bounced back from their painful 2-0 loss to Empoli with a 6-0 thrashing of Cukaricki in the Conference League.
The Viola thought they’d taken the lead after just 12 minutes when Lucas Beltran sprinted into the box, dribbled around Ivan Provedel and placed the ball into the back of the net.
A VAR check followed, and referee Matteo Marcenaro chalked off the goal due to a handball from the Argentinian forward in the build-up.
Vincenzo Italiano’s side hit the post a few minutes later, causing a scare for Lazio, but things soon settled down and both teams started to wrestle for control of the match, although Fiorentina were looking the brighter of the two.
Lazio grew into things in the second half of the match and started to place Fiorentina under far more pressure, but their forays forward did not result in an advantage, leaving things all square in a tense Stadio Olimpico.
In the final minute of the match, a cross from Pedro was perfectly met by Matias Vecino, whose goal-bound header was blocked by the raise arm of Viola defender Nikola Milenkovic.
Marcenaro pointed to the penalty spot and Ciro Immobile stepped up, keen to redeem himself after a slow start to the season. The 33-year-old made no mistake from 12 yards out, sending Pietro Terracciano the wrong way to give Lazio a last second lead.
It was a tense and testing affair for Sarri’s Lazio, but the result will give them confidence of their means and desire heading into their next game against Bologna.
