Stefano Mauri cancelled out Kamil Glik’s first half opener to rescue a point for Vladimir Petkovic’s side, who will see the 1-1 draw as two points dropped.
Lazio vs Torino, Final Score 1-1: Granata hold on for a point
Battling Torino almost managed an upset, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.
Lazio were perhaps feeling the strain from playing their fourth game in 11 days. They came into this match without suspended duo Hernanes and Cristian Ledesma. Veteran Tommaso Rocchi came in for his first start of the season alongside Miroslav Klose, thus pushing Antonio Candreva and Mauri out wide.
The visitors were without suspended Gianluca Sansone, following his dubious sending off at the weekend, with boss Giampiero Ventura beginning to feel the heat from disgruntled fans.
As the home side adjusted to their new formation, the Granata hit them with a sucker punch. Glik rose highest from a corner to guide a header into the bottom corner after just ten minutes.
Lazio looked to their wide men to get back into the game. Candreva sent a free kick a mere metre over the goal, then fed Mauri who shot wide of the post.
Ten minutes before the break, Candreva surged forwards, only to see Jean-Francois Gillet push his shot around the post. From the resulting corner, Lorik Cana sent a diving header wide.
Moments later, a free kick found Rocchi in the box, but his shot hit Torino traffic and deflected wide.
The visitors should have doubled their lead in first half stoppage time. Alessandro Sgrigna released Alessio Cerci, whose hesitation allowed Albano Bizzarri and Giuseppe Biava to clear the danger. It was a huge letoff for the Lazio keeper, who spilled the ball back out to Cerci after initially getting hold of it.
Cerci tested Bizzarri with a low shot straight from the restart, while Mauri just missed out on heading home a Senad Lulic cross.
Mario Santana wasted a glorious free header and Lazio punished Torino by finally grabbing their equaliser three minutes short of the hour. Candreva laid the ball off to Mauri, who ran into the box to crash a shot in off the post.
The home side increased the pressure. Luis Cavanda fed Rocchi, who marginally sprung the offside trap and rounded Gillet, only to shoot into the side netting. Rocchi then retrieved a loose ball and pulled back for Mauri, who shot straight into Gillet’s gloves from the edge of the box.
With 20 minutes to play, Glik stretched out a leg to prevent Rocchi from volleying home. Rocchi made one final contribution, picking up Klose’s through ball, turning his marker and sending a half volley over the bar.
Torino had one last chance to snatch it when Cerci surged clear down the flank. He spotted Rolando Bianchi in the box, but Biava was in position to cut out the cross.
In the dying moments, Klose picked up a needless booking which rules him out of Sunday's game at Catania.
Lazio: Bizzarri, Konko, Biava, Dias, Lulic, Gonzalez, (Cavanda 58) Mauri, Cana, Candreva, (Brocchi 86) Rocchi, (Floccari 74) Klose
Torino: Gillet, Darmian, Glik, Rodriguez, D’Ambrosio, Brighi, Gazzi, Bianchi, Sgrigna, (Meggiorini 62 Cerci, (Birsa 86) Santana (Stevanovic 58)
Goals: Glik 10 (T) Mauri 57 (L)
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