Lazio hand Juve season’s first loss
ROME: Lazio came from behind to beat Juventus 3-1 and hand the Turin side their first defeat of the season on Saturday, scoring the two decisive goals in the f i nal 20 minutes after t heir opponents had Juan Cuadrado controversially sent off.
Juve, who had gone their first 19 games under new coach Maurizio Sarri unbeaten in all competitions, went ahead with a Cristiano Ronaldo goal in the 25th minute but Luiz Felipe levelled for Lazio in first-half stoppage time.
The game turned in the 69th minute when Juve right back Cuadrado clattered into Manuel Lazzari after he was sent clear by Luis Alberto’s pass and the referee dismissed the Colombian after viewing the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Although Lazzari was at least 30 metres from goal, referee Michael Fabbri judged that he had been denied a s c o r i ng chance, amid angry protests from the Juventus players.
Five minutes later, Sergej Milinkovic-savic latched on to Luis Alberto’s cross to put Lazio in front. Ciro Immobile had a penalty saved before substitute Felipe Caicedo scored a third goal in stoppage time.
Juventus stayed second, two points behind Inter Milan, with 36 points from 15 games while
Lazio, who are third, closed the gap on their opponents to three points after their seventh successive league win.
“I don’t agree that it was a clear scoring chance because the ball was going away from the goal,” said Sarri.
“A yellow card would have been the fair decision, it seemed a bit harsh but that’s how it went.
“When the game seemed to be more balanced, the red card changed everything... The title race? Lazio are there as well as ourselves and Inter.”
“This is an excellent period for us,” said Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi.
“We need to be ambitious and l ook ahead. My l ads di d an extraordinary job tonight,” he added.
In another Serie A game on Sunday, Lecce a nd Genoa played out a 2-2 draw.