Como Scupper Lazio Birthday Celebrations as Loum Tchaouna’s Red Card Proves Costly | OneFootball

Lazio were hoping to celebrate their 125th birthday in style, but ended up sharing the spoils with their visitors Como.

The Lineup

Due to a host of absentees, Marco Baroni had to make some tweaks to his starting lineup, which included playing Fisayo Dele-Bashiru as a left winger and Loum Tchaouna as an attacking midfielder in his 4-2-3-1 system. Boulaye Dia led the line with Nicolo Rovella and Matteo Guendouzi operating in the double pivot.

All About Nico Paz

It was all Como in the early going, with Cesc Fabregas’ men launching a major onslaught on Ivan Provedel’s goals, but Nico Paz failed to finish a few inviting opportunities to take Lazio off the hook. However, the Lariani lost their momentum when the young Spaniard was forced to leave the pitch injured following a rough, yet legal, challenge from Samuel Gigot.

Boulaye Dia Gives Lazio the Lead

In the 33rd minute, Como were caught toying with possession for too long, and they ended up paying dearly for it. Alberto Moreno was dispossessed by Lazio’s counter-pressing, and Guendouzi was quick to pick up Dia in the box. The Senegalese turned away from Marc-Oliver Kempf and experetly drilled a shot towards the bottom corner to give the home side the lead.

Lazio Lose the Plot

Despite entering the second half with a goal advantage, Lazio pressed the auto-destruction button. The referee chose to forgive Luca Pellegrini who arguably deserved a second yellow card for pulling down an opponent with his shirt, but there was no mercy for Loum Tchaouna who received his marching orders for a needless late lunge in the middle of the park.

Patrick Cutrone Draw Como Level

Afterwards, Como took advantage of their numerical superiority to score the equalizer. Gabriel Strefezza’s low cross found Patrick Cutrone whose awkward header bounced off the ground and into the goal.

The two sides had chances in the final stretch, with Guendouzi squandering an absolute sitter, but the result remained 1-1, with Lazio extending their underwhelming run.

Lazio 1-1 Como

Goals: 33′ Dia (L), 72′ Cutrone (C).

Lazio (4-2-3-1): Provedel; Lazzari (59′ Marusic), Gigot, Romagnoli, Pellegrini (59′ Tavares); Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen (73′ Hysaj), Tchaouna, Dele-Bashiru; Dia.

Como (4-2-3-1): Butez; Van Der Brempt, Dossena, Kempf, Moreno (69′ Belotti); Engelhardt, Da Cunha; Strefezza (84′ Mazzitelli), Paz (19′ Diao), Fadera; Cutrone (84′ Kone).

Yellow cards: Kempf (C), Pellegrini (L), Tchaouna (L), Rovella (L), Strefezza (C), Engelhardt (C).

Red card: Tchaouna (L).