By Jerry Mancini.
Lazio ended their winning streak at eleven matches after drawing 1-1 with Roma in the Derby della Capitale on Sunday.
The tie prevented the Biancocelesti from passing their rivals who also recorded 11 straight wins in the 2005/06 season, and between 2013 and 2014.
While Lazio have shown good form lately, Roma was the stronger side throughout the game.
The derby was decided by two goalkeeper errors, with Thomas Strakosha and Pau Lopez both at fault.
In the 26th minute, Strakosha misjudged a cross which allowed Roma striker Edin Dzeko to head home and give Roma the lead.
It was short-lived for the Giallorossi, though. Eight minutes later, Roma goalkeeper Lopez made a poor attempt to punch the ball away at a corner kick and it landed in the area. Francesco Acerbi followed up on the loose ball and scored to tie the game.
Roma controlled most of the play with Lorenzo Pellegrini coming the closest to breaking the tie when his shot hit the post. With the draw, Lazio’s unbeaten streak extended to fifteen games.
Lazio have 46 points and are currently in third place, trailing Inter Milan by two points with a game in hand. Meanwhile, Roma are in fourth and have 39 points, one ahead of Atalanta.
Roma displayed a level of composure and were a step ahead of Lazio throughout the match.
“I’m proud of how my players did, we played very well against an excellent team,” Roma coach Paulo Fonseca told Sky Sport Italia.
“If we look at the statistics, it’s incredible that we didn’t win. We tried to attack constantly and by playing like this, it’s easier to believe in this team. I think the lads deserved more than the result they got today.”
In the second half, Roma were given a penalty when it appeared that Justin Kluivert was tripped in the box by Lazio defender Patric. The decision was overturned by Gianpaolo Calvarese after reviewing the play with Video Assistant Referee, as replays showed that Patric didn’t pull Kluivert down in the box.
After his mistake in the first half, Strakosha rebounded and made two key saves from Dzeko to help Lazio secure a point in this match.
As for Lazio, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic had a chance near the end of the game but was unable to hit the target with his shot going narrowly wide.
Lazio will be happy they managed to earn a point in this match.
“Technically we got many things wrong and Roma prepared an intense match,” admitted Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi.
“We could have done better and I was expecting more. Now we need to recover our energy, hoping that nobody else picks up knocks, because we have 18 finals ahead of us.”
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