Just like the first leg, Lazio took the early lead only to fumble it for a 2-1 defeat to AZ Alkmaar, as they crash out of the Conference League in the Round of 16.
The Aquile fumbled a lead to lose the first leg 2-1 at the Olimpico, so had it all to do here, especially as they also had the Rome Derby coming up on Sunday in Serie A. Ciro Immobile and Elseid Hysaj were injured, so Luca Pellegrini finally got his debut for the Biancocelesti. The hosts missed Sam Westerveld, Inter-owned Zinho Vanheusden, Sam Beukema, Bruno Martins Indi, Riechedly Bazoer and Dani de Wit.
Lazio took the lead early on and drew level on aggregate, as Mattia Zaccagni sprung the offside trap on a long ball down the left and laid it off for Felipe Anderson to toe-poke into the near bottom corner from 12 yards.
However, AZ equalised when Jesper Karlsson unleashed a screamer from distance that swerved mid-air to leave Ivan Provedel with no chance, flying into the far top corner.
Provedel did keep the scoreline down throughout the rest of the first half, making the saves on Sven Mijnans, Vangelis Pavlidis and then Karlsson from point-blank range on a corner.
Luca Pellegrini unleashed a screamer from distance that was going into the far top corner, similar to the Karlsson strike, but Mathew Ryan was ready for it with a great save.
Alkmaar was unfortunate not to take the lead when Reijnders hit a low drive past Provedel, but was denied by the base of the far post.
The hosts did eventually manage to turn the game around with Pavlidis taking a touch on the edge of the box and drilling low into the far bottom corner through the legs of a defender.
Lazio visibly deflated and AZ Alkmaar threatened to run riot, first with Nicolò Casale making a block on the Pavlidis back-heel flick, then Jens Odgaard thumping the frame of the goal from a tricky angle.
Reijnders was so unfortunate to hit the woodwork again, this time with a half-volley that bounced off the base of the far upright with Provedel well beaten.
Pedro came off the bench and tried to wake his teammates up with a curler deflected wide, but it was too little, too late. Just like the first leg, Lazio had started well and lost their way.
AZ Alkmaar 2-1 Lazio (4-2 agg)
Felipe Anderson 21 (L), Karlsson 28 (A), Pavlidis 62 (A)
Player statistic
| Milos Kerkez |  |
2' | ||
| 21' |  |
Felipe Anderson (Assist: Mattia Zaccagni) | ||
| Jesper Karlsson (Assist: Jordy Clasie) |
|
28' | ||
| 42' | |
Matías Vecino |
| 48' | |
Luca Pellegrini | ||
| Vangelis Pavlidis (Assist: Jesper Karlsson) |
|
62' |
Match statistic
congrats Lazio on not only being the only Italian team to get knocked out, but also out of what was apparently an easy cup to win!