Lazio have it all to do in the second leg of the Europa League Play-Off, as Mattia Zaccagni’s well-taken opener was cancelled out by a pair of Toni Martinez goals for FC Porto to win 2-1.
This was the first leg of the play-offs, a new fixture introduced between the sides that finished third in their Champions League groups and second in the Europa League, for access to the Europa League Round of 16.
Ciro Immobile was left at home with a fever, while Francesco Acerbi and Manuel Lazzari were injured, so Felipe Anderson was a makeshift False 9. Sergio Conceicao made some surprising decisions with his starting XI, leaving both first-choice strikers and goalkeeper on the bench.
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An early Pepe header hit the side-netting from a corner, but Lazio took the lead when a short corner routine allowed Luis Alberto to roll across from the right for Mattia Zaccagni’s delightful flick at the near post.
Porto had penalty appeals, but Adam Marusic had his arm right across his torso when charging down the Toni Martinez shot.
Luiz Felipe then had to rush back and perform a goal-line clearance after Pepe had flicked it beyond the on-rushing goalkeeper.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic forced the goalkeeper into a desperate save with his legs, but Porto equalised when Joao Mario whipped in a cross from the right and Toni Martinez peeled away from his marker for a bullet header from 12 yards.
Lazio lead against Porto! 💪
The movement and improvised finish from Mattia Zaccagni 👌#UEL pic.twitter.com/OZ0XJ4PkH5
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 17, 2022
Porto turned it around after the restart, another Joao Mario cross finding Toni Martinez, this time for a half-volley from 12 yards.
The surprise starter almost completed a hat-trick, his ferocious strike fingertipped out of the top corner by Thomas Strakosha.
A Matheus Uribe header and Evanilson’s lob were over the bar, while Zaccagni was booked and will be suspended for the second leg.
Zaccagni almost completed his brace, a shot from the edge of the box deflected inches wide of the near post, then his cross was cleared off the head of Felipe Anderson from point-blank range.
Felipe Anderson’s chest and volley only hit the side-netting from a promising position.
Porto 2-1 Lazio
Zaccagni 23 (L), Toni Martinez 37, 49 (P)