Lazio-Empoli 2-2: double Tuscan comeback, Marin finds the equal in the 94th minute

Lazio needs a psychologist, it’s now official. Against Empoli at the Olimpico another psychodrama like in Lecce, perhaps even worse. In the 38th minute of the second half, Sarri’s team serenely led 2-0 thanks to goals from Felipe Anderson and Zaccagni, then from that minute on, anything happened. The disastrous referee Pezzuto does not expel Bandinelli who, having already been booked, voluntarily knocks Hysaj out: the Lazio protests are useless. On the free-kick not exploited by the biancocelesti, restart of Empoli, until then practically never dangerous, and goals from Caputo, one of the profiles monitored last summer as deputy-Immobile, on a cross from Bajrami. It was precisely the substitutions that changed the game: because Lazio’s reserves, from Vecino and Pedro to Basic, were disastrous in the crucial moments, while Pjaca, Bajrami himself – also author of the assist for Marin’s 2-2 at the last minute, a shot from the edge that slipped under the crossbar – and Cambiaghi, who came on for Baldanzi, were decisive for the draw wrested by the Tuscans. The match inevitably ended with the Lazio boos against Sarri’s players, who wasted a sensational opportunity to get closer to the Champions League area. Despite the number of shots: 18-5.

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Before the match, a tribute to Mihajlovic: the blow-up placed in the Maestrelli curve and above all the video broadcast on the giant screens moved the 35,000 people at the Olimpico. Then the minute’s silence – actually of applause – dedicated to the former Serbian champion and Vialli. The North curve is empty because it was closed by the sports judge for the howls against Banda and Umtiti in Lecce, enormous damage to the image of the Biancoceleste club on the day of remembrance of Mihajlovic, in fact, and of the first celebrations for the 123th anniversary of the club, born on January 9, 1900. The team wore a jersey with the words “No racism” during the warm-up.

On the pitch, the surprise in Sarri’s lineup comes from the simultaneous presence of Milinkovic and Luis Alberto, while Vecino is on the bench. It gives confidence to the Spaniard, Sarri, because he has returned from good training. And in fact he is the one who creates the premises for the opening goal, already in the 2nd minute: trajectory with deadly effect coming back from a corner, the ball headed by Felipe Anderson and then by Caputo, nothing to do for Vicario. The goal was awarded by the League to the Brazilian, who had nevertheless deflected towards the net. At that point we expect an aggressive Lazio, instead the only real opportunity comes from Zaccagni’s right foot, which incredibly shoots out in the 19th minute. In any case, the Biancoceleste team dominated and closed the first half with 11 shots to zero. In the final half, the cautioned Lazzari was booked: he will miss Sunday’s match against Sassuolo in Reggio Emilia.

Nine minutes into the second half, Zaccagni made amends with a fine goal from an assist from Felipe Anderson. Milinkovic’s post also arrives later: Vicario’s deviation is decisive. Still subdued the Serbian, much more lively Luis Alberto, applauded by the Lazio fans. Replacing him and Cataldi with Basic and Vecino was a mistake: the Croatian and the Uruguayan were among the protagonists of the horror finale, characterized by two goals from Empoli in the last 11 minutes, with the match appearing absolutely under control for the Sarri’s men. As in Lecce, where even the defeat had arrived. For the Biancocelesti, 7 points in the last 6 games, now it’s a crisis. And there are 13 points lost in the comeback, that is, wasting advantageous situations: a very bitter birthday, really, for Lazio.

Lazio (4-3-3) Provedel 5.5 – Lazzari 6 (25′ st Hysaj 5.5), Casale 5.5, Romagnoli 5, Marusic 5.5 – Milinkovic 5.5, Cataldi 7 (25′ st Vecino 5), Luis Alberto 6 (42′ st Basic 5) – Felipe Anderson 6.5, Building 5.5, Zaccagni 6.5 (15′ st Pedro 5). Herds: Sarri 5.
Empoli (4-3-1-2) Vicario 6.5 – Stojanovic 5 (23′ st Ebuehi 6.5), Ismajli 5.5, Luperto 6, Parisi 5.5 – Grassi 5 (11′ st Bandinelli 5), Marin 7, Fazzini 5 (31′ st Bajrami 7.5) – Baldanzi 5 (11′ st Cambiaghi 7) – Caputo 7, Satriano 5.5 (23′ st Pjaca 6.5). Herds: Zanetti 7.
Referee: Pezzuto 4.
Net: 2′ pt Felipe Anderson, 9′ st Zaccagni, 38′ st Caputo, 49′ st Cambiaghi.
Note: Lazzari, Romagnoli, Pedro, Bandinelli, Vecino booked; around 35,000 spectators.