Lazio defeated St Etienne 3-2, but it was a poor Europa League performance against nine men.
The Aquile needed a boost after conceding a last-gasp equaliser away to Dnipro, but missed Stefan de Vrij, Antonio Candreva, Miroslav Klose and Filip Djordjevic. Saint-Etienne were stalemate specialists, holding Rosenborg 2-2 and last season drawing the opening five Europa League fixtures.
Lazio defeated St Etienne 3-2, but it was a poor Europa League performance against nine men.
The Aquile needed a boost after conceding a last-gasp equaliser away to Dnipro, but missed Stefan de Vrij, Antonio Candreva, Miroslav Klose and Filip Djordjevic. Saint-Etienne were stalemate specialists, holding Rosenborg 2-2 and last season drawing the opening five Europa League fixtures.
It was nothing short of a disastrous start for Lazio, as a low Romain Hamouma corner bounced off Moustapha Bayal Sall’s stomach to bundle over the line from close range, almost by accident.
Moments later the Aquile thought they had equalised, but Wesley Hoedt’s header was palmed off the line by Stephane Ruffier at full stretch.
It was nearly 2-0 on 14 minutes from another corner, as Nolan Roux’s looping header bounced off the crossbar.
Lazio did draw level, as Felipe Anderson burst down the right and his deflected cross was controlled and smashed in on the half-volley by Eddy Onazi.
The game turned again with a very controversial decision, as Saint-Etienne forward Robert Beric received a straight red card for use of the elbow. However, if anything it was Mauricio who headbutted the back of his arm, leaving him with a bloody nose.
Even then, Hamouma at full stretch could only poke a through ball straight at Etrit Berisha and on the stroke of half-time Stefano Mauri ballooned over from a smart chipped pass.
Mauricio has possibly fractured his nose in that incident with Beric and was substituted at the break. Lazio turned the game around when Ruffier struggled to punch a Lucas Biglia free kick and Hoedt smartly turned in the loose ball from a tight angle with the outside of the left boot, a move he had to make to prevent anyone scrambling back to clear.
Berisha had to parry a Jean-Cristophe Bahebeck angled drive at the near post , but St-Etienne went down to nine men after Sall’s second bookable offence on Felipe Anderson.
Moments later, Lazio added a third goal, as Ruffier again only palmed a Keita Balde Diao effort and Lucas Biglia turned in the rebound, although it took a huge deflection to loop over the goalkeeper.
Incredibly, nine-man St Etienne still got back into it with a goal to make it 3-2 at the Olimpico with a delightful chip from substitute Kevin Monnet-Paquet.
In fact, it was almost 3-3 because Vincent Pajot’s header skimmed the far post, while at the other end Ruffier stuck out a leg to deny Alessandro Matri.
Lazio 3-2 St-Etienne
Scorers: Sall 6 (S), Onazi 22 (L), Hoedt 48 (L), Biglia 80 (L), Monnet-Paquet
Lazio: Berisha; Basta, Mauricio (Gentiletti 46), Hoedt, Radu; Biglia, Onazi (Cataldi 74); Felipe Anderson, Milinkovic-Savic, Keita; Mauri (Matri 64)
St-Etienne: Ruffier; Clerc, Sall, Perrin, Polomat; Pajot, Lemoine; Roux (Monnet-Paquet 74), Corgnet (Diomande 63), Hamouma (Bahebeck 63); Beric
Ref: Ozkahya (TUR)
Sent off: Beric 33 (S), Sall 76 (S)