Sassuolo came ever so close to scoring a first ever Serie A victory. Andre Dias and Antonio Candreva had given Lazio the lead with two goals in four second half minutes. An instant reply from Ezequiel Schelotto handed Sassuolo a lifeline, before substitute Antonio Floro Flores rifled in a free kick to give the home side a much deserved draw.
Sassuolo vs Lazio, final score 2-2: Neroverdi battle back to earn a share of the spoils
Sassuolo fought back from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw with Lazio in Reggio-Emilia.
Mario Carlini / Iguana Press
The Neroverdi recovered from last weekend's 7-0 mauling from Inter Milan by picking up their first point of the season at Napoli in midweek.
Eusebio Di Francesco was without a whole host of injured players for this game. Luca Antei, Carl Valeri, Luca Marrone, Emanuele Terranova, Alberto Aladje Gomes and Marcello Gazzola all missed out.
Lazio had a similar injury crisis. Stefan Radu, Abdoulay Konko, Diego Novaretti, Giuseppe Biava and Miroslav Klose were all out. Lucas Biglia was only fit enough to be a substitute, but Andre Dias returned from a suspension. Senad Lulic was rested ahead of the Europa League game against Trabzonspor.
Andre Dias beat Gianluca Pegolo to the ball, but headed over Cristian Ledesma's corner from less than six yards on ten minutes. Moments later, the Brazilian brought down Jasmin Kurtic on the edge of the box. As the Slovenian struggled with the after effects of the tackle, Karim Laribi was all set to come on. Kurtic somehow convinced Di Francesco he could carry on and resumed the field.
On 15 minutes, Hernanes picked out Antonio Candreva to cut inside Francecso Acerbi, but his shot swung away from the far post. The Italian international had another chance, only to see a weak effort roll straight into Pegolo’s gloves.
Sassuolo enjoyed a good spell. Simone Zaza headed Simone Missiroli's cross off the bar on 26 minutes. Domenico Berardi's low cross was then fired over by a wasteful Kurtic.
The home side restricted Lazio to long range efforts. Hernanes’ shot from distance didn’t trouble Pegolo. Five minutes before the break, Schelotto’s pass unleashed Zaza, whose quick turn and first time shot caught everyone by surprise as it crept past the far post.
Lazio wasted their best effort in first half injury time. Michael Ciani got on the end of Candreva's corner, only to head down and wide. The Frenchman was completely unmarked. On the stroke of half time, Pegolo showed safe hands to smother an Ederson cross, with Sergio Floccari lurking.
Sassuolo were living dangerously on corners and paid the price five minutes after the break. Candreva’s delivery was met by an unmarked Dias, who jumped highest to head Lazio in front.
Four minutes later, Candreva doubled the lead when his 25-yard shot hit the inside of the post, before travelling across the line and nestling into the net.
Rather than fold, Sassuolo hit back immediately. Schelotto's header from Kurtic's corner beat Federico Marchetti and the game was well and truly back on. Acerbi's snapshot finished just wide after Lazio made a poor attempt at clearing the ball.
Berardi went down under Ciani on the hour, but had penalty appeals turned down. The forward went off with an ankle injury as a result of Ciani’s challenge. Ederson showed his displeasure toward the Lazio bench when he was substituted for the returning Biglia.
Sassuolo pressed for an equaliser. Kurtic’s low cross was turned over by substitute Antonio Floro Flores after the forward was put under pressure by Biglia. Minutes later, Zaza sprung the offside trap, but Ciani got a crucial deflection as the forward pulled the trigger. From the corner, Marchetti palmed over from Zaza, before punching clear a second delivery.
Di Francesco’s side drew level 14 minutes from the end with a thunderbolt of a strike. Floro Flores took everyone by surprise when he unleashed a free kick from 30 yards. The ball dipped over the Lazio wall, Marchetti saw it late and could only push the ball into the net.
Sassuolo had the chance to win it in the dying minutes. Laribi threaded Floro Flores through, but Marchetti denied the frontman a second and Sassuolo a maiden victory, when he saved with his legs.
Deep in stoppage time, Marchetti rescued Lazio once again when he smothered the ball after Ciani’s miscommunication almost let the home side in. Schelotto curled one final effort over to end a pulsating match.
Sassuolo: Pegolo; Schelotto, Marzorati, Bianco, Acerbi, Ziegler; Kurtic, (Laribi 76) Magnanelli, Missiroli; Berardi, (Floro Flores 63) Zaza (Alexe 80)
Lazio: Marchetti; Cavanda, (Cana 76) Ciani, Dias, Pereirinha; Hernanes, Ederson, (Biglia 64) Ledesma, Onazi, (Gonzalez 46) Candreva; Floccari
Goals: Andre Dias 50 (L) Candreva 54 (L) Schelotto 55 (S) Floro Flores 76 (S)
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