A double defensive error gifted Steaua Bucharest the winning goal, but Lazio wasted several great chances and hit the crossbar.
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A double defensive error gifted Steaua Bucharest the winning goal, but Lazio wasted several great chances and hit the crossbar.
See how all today’s Europa League games involving Italian teams unfolded on the LIVEBLOG.
The Aquile had an excellent run in Europe, but were coming off three consecutive Serie A defeats, so needed a confidence booster. Simone Inzaghi still rotated the squad with Luis Alberto, Stefan de Vrij, Marco Parolo and Adam Marusic staying at home.
Thomas Strakosha risked fumbling a long ball when he collided with teammate Luiz Felipe in the opening minutes, but Felipe Caicedo twice tested the goalkeeper in quick succession, including an Alessandro Murgia knock-down.
Mihai Pintilii was booked and will be suspended for the second leg at the Stadio Olimpico next week. However, a double error gifted Steaua the opener.
First Caicedo gave it away in the opposition half, then Luis Nani completely missed the ball, allowing Harlem Gnohere to go clear on goal and beat Strakosha one-on-one.
Soon after, Gnohere scuffed a strike wide from the edge of the box, while Nani’s angled drive was beaten away by Daniel Vlad’s foot and nobody could finish off a goalmouth scramble in the Steaua area.
Lazio were unlucky not to equalise on the stroke of half-time, as Nani’s corner was nodded on to the crossbar by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Straight after the restart, they almost repeated it, this time Caicedo’s header skimming the woodwork, then substitute Felipe Anderson horribly scuffed his finish when sent clear by Milinkovic-Savic.
Budescu almost made the most of a defensive error when going round Strakosha, but ran out of room and tried to back-heel it.
Lazio incredibly failed to equalise on 85 minutes, as Felipe Anderson flew down the left and rolled across the six-yard box, where Martin Caceres only had to slide it in, but somehow accidentally ended up clearing the ball off the line.
FCSB 1-0 Lazio
Gnohere 29 (SB)
Steaua Bucharest: Vlad; Benzar, Gaman, Planic, Morais; Pintilii (Teixeira 46), Nedelcu; Man, Budescu, F Tanase (Coman 58); Gnohere (C Tanase 81)
Lazio: Strakosha; Bastos, Luiz Felipe, Caceres; Basta, Murgia, Leiva, Milinkovic-Savic, Lukaku (Lulic 75); Nani (Felipe Anderson 55); Caicedo (Immobile 55)
Ref: Aytekin (GER)