Ivan the architect of terrible afternoon for Lazio
The margins have got smaller for Lazio now that Juventus’ 15-point deduction has been overturned, and they were minuscule when Mattia Zaccagni got a header off in the opening 30 seconds, as Vanja Milinkovic-Savic clawed the ball off the line having initially missed it.
Torino soon settled down after that early scare, although Nemanja Radonjic was denied by Ivan Provedel after he had turned past Patric with ease. Il Toro also looked resolute in defence, deploying a combative approach that left the Stadio Olimpico aggrieved at times.
While the hosts’ frustrations were openly directed towards referee Davide Ghersini, they weren’t reflected in the team’s play as Maurizio Sarri’s side patiently built up their play while waiting for moments to spring forward. That approach didn’t necessarily translate into clear opportunities, though, with Milinkovic-Savic’s biggest test coming from his brother, Sergej, whose free-kick attempt was decisively plucked out of the air.
Provedel wasn’t so convincing, as the goalkeeper’s attempt at tipping Ivan Ilic’s audacious strike wide sent it onto the post and into the back of his net for the midfielder’s first goal of the season.
Under a week after a car accident left him hospitalised, Ciro Immobile was introduced in the 54th minute, which initially provided a boost for everyone of a Biancocelesti persuasion. However, the uproar only seemed to grow with every decision Ghersini made, while the hosts were struggling to break through Ivan Juric’s backline with Luis Alberto letting off a speculative effort from range.
So, despite Alessandro Buongiorno heading agonisingly over in the latter stages, Il Toro valiantly ended their four-game winless run to jump above Sassuolo into 10th place in SA. Lazio have far more to play for but also more to lose as they fight for a UEFA Champions League qualifying spot, and their gap to fifth place could now be reduced to five points after their four-game winning run came to an end.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Perr Schuurs (Torino)
