football italia
Lazio are joint top of the table with Roma and Inter after Mattia Zaccagni and Tijjani Noslin secured victory over Venezia, but Christos Mandas was decisive saving more than just a penalty.
he Biancocelesti lost their 100 per cent Serie A record in a 2-2 draw with Milan, missing Nicolò Rovella, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Adam Marusic and Patric, while Danilho Doekhi returned to the bench with a protective cast after a fracture in his hand.
The Lagunari were rock bottom after four defeats out of four, with reports coach Giovanni Stroppa would soon be fired. His lengthy absentee list included Gianluca Busio, Ridgeciano Haps, Andrea Adorante, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Marin Sverko, Bartol Franjic and ex-Lazio midfielder Toma Basic.
Mattia Zaccagni bent his free kick just wide around the wall, but Venezia received a penalty when Romano Floriani Mussolini’s weak header back was intercepted by Thierry Correia, brought down by Christos Mandas. Following a discussion with Akor Adams, John Yeboah was given the go-ahead to step up from the touchline, but saw his spot-kick parried by Mandas.
Kenneth Taylor didn’t make the most of a Nuno Tavares pull-back, while Mandas was again decisive on a Simon Sohm volley from the edge of the area after fumbling the initial corner.
Yeboah just failed to get his head to a Kike Perez cross at the far post, then Bosko Sutalo made a desperate sliding tackle as Adams was pulling the trigger.
Mandas rushed off his line and narrowed the angle, getting a glove to the Adams angled drive when sent clear by Yeboah, then was at full stretch to palm away the ferocious Antoine Hainaut strike from the edge of the area.
Matteo Cancellieri’s curler flashed just wide from distance, but Lazio were awarded a penalty after the restart when Yeboah brought down Kenneth Taylor as he was trying to turn just inside the area. Zaccagni converted with both power and precision into the near top corner past Filip Stankovic, his first Serie A goal in 21 appearances.
Reda Belahyane bent his finish just wide after a give and go with Tijjani Noslin, but Noslin doubled Lazio’s lead when leaping above Juan Jesus to nod in the Nuno Tavares cross.
Venezia continued to waste their opportunities, Adams hitting the side-netting, then scuffing the finish at Mandas under pressure from Belahyane.
Manuel Lazzari threatened a third by drilling just wide from distance on his 250th appearance for Lazio.
