Ascoli 1-2 Lazio: Zaccagni & Ratkov Complete Aquile Comeback | OneFootball

Lazio maintained their perfect pre-season record, registering their fourth win of the summer, this time at the expense of their hosts Ascoli.

Lazio Starting Lineup

Following Saturday’s 6-3 win over Avellino, the Biancocelesti entered Sunday’s contest at the Stadio Del Duca with eight different starters. The only survivors from the previous day were Christos Mandas in goal, Adam Marusic, who moved to left-back, and Boulaye Dia, who led Gennaro Gattuso’s 4-3-3 formation, flanked by Tijjani Noslin and Mattia Zaccagni.

In the middle of the park, Nicola Rovella operated as a deep-lying playmaker between Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Kenneth Taylor. At the back, Oliver Provstgaard combined with Danilho Doekhi, while Manuel Lazzari took the right-back slot.

Dia Wastes Glorious First-Half Chances

Fueled by the unwavering support of the travelling supporters who flocked into the stadium, Gattuso’s men completely dominated the action in the first half. Taylor came close with a low drive from the edge of the box, while Dele-Bashiru couldn’t make the most of an inviting chance.

However, Dia emerged as the biggest culprit, as despite working himself into perfect shooting angles, he shockingly squandered two major opportunities with tame shots to the centre of the goal.

Ascoli Snatch the Lead

After the interval, Lazio kept pushing for an opener, but they suddenly found themselves trailing, with Ascoli finding a goal against the run of play. Simone D’Uffizi played an inch-perfect through ball that split the Aquile’s defences. Amine Chakir won his foot race with Provstgaard before coolly placing his shot past Mandas.

Mattia Zaccagni Responds with Backheel Finish

Ascoli’s lead was short-lived, as Lazio netted an equalizer five minutes later. Taylor picked up Dia’s run, and the Senegalese was able to send a square ball toward the mouth of the goal. The goalkeeper rushed off his line to clear it, but Zaccagni got there first, putting his name on the scoresheet with a deft backheel.

New Lazio Lineup for the Final 15 Minutes

At the 74th minute, Gattuso changed his entire lineup at once. Edoardo Motta entered in goal, while the new backline consisted of Romano Floriani Mussolini, Ricardo Bordon, Alessio Romagnoli, and Alfonso Pedraza. In midfield, the manager opted for the young trio of Valerio Farcomeni, Reda Belahyane, and Adrian Przyborek, while Matteo Cancellieri and Federico Serra joined Petar Ratkov in Attack.

Petar Ratkov Bags the Winner

Ratkov almost made an immediate impact after receiving a cross from Cancellieri, but his header whistled past the post. Nevertheless, the Serbian striker still managed to net his third goal of the weekend (having bagged a brace on Saturday), getting on the end of Przyborek’s cross from the right flank, and guiding it home with a simple yet clinical finish.

Lazio’s next test will take place at their training ground in Formello on Wednesday, when they host Serie C side Ostia Mare.

Ascoli 1-2 Lazio

Goals: 61′ Chakir (A), 66′ Zaccagni (L), 88′ Ratkov (L)

ASCOLI (4-2-3-1): Vitale; Alagna (69′ Oliveri), Curado (81′ Diamanti), Nicoletti (74′ Rizzo), Guiebre (32′ Zagari); Acampora (74′ Gorica), Milanese (81′ Russo); Silipo (74′ De Pieri), Perciun (86′ Conti), D’Uffizi (74′ Lo Scalzo); Chakir (74′ Gori). 

LAZIO (4-3-3): Mandas (74′ Motta); Lazzari (74′ Floriani Mussolini), Doekhi (74′ Bordon), Provstgaard (74′ Romagnoli), Marusic (74′ Pedraza); Dele-Bashiru (74′ Belahyane), Rovella (74′ Farcomeni), Taylor (74′ Przyborek); Noslin (74′ Cancellieri), Dia (74′ Ratkov), Zaccagni (74′ Serra). 

Referee:  Andrea Zanotti (Rimini section)

Linesmen: Simone Pistarelli – Matteo Lauri

Fourth Officer: Juan Luca Sacchi