Lazio secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Viktoria Plzen in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League last-16 clash, despite going down to nine men, with Gustav Isaksen netting a stunning 98th-minute winner.
This hard-fought win made the Italian side only the second team to triumph at the Doosan Arena in Plzen’s last 18 home games in the competition.
Having dispatched Ferencváros in dominant fashion during the play-off round, Plzen entered the match knowing a strong start would be crucial.
The Czech side thought they had done just that when Pavel Sulc unleashed a superb strike into the far corner. However, their celebrations were cut short as VAR controversially ruled the goal out for offside.
Lazio wasted no time capitalizing on that let-off. Alessio Romagnoli latched onto Tijjani Noslin’s flicked header at the back post, nodding home his second goal of this season’s Europa League campaign.
The visitors controlled possession for much of the first half, though clear-cut chances were limited. Boulaye Dia tested Martin Jedlicka with a low strike, while Isaksen squandered a golden opportunity one-on-one, his heavy touch allowing the Plzen goalkeeper to collect.
Plzen came out of the break with renewed intent, and their persistence soon paid off. Lukas Kalvach delivered a precise free-kick, which Rafiu Durosinmi expertly headed home to level the score.
The Czech side nearly turned the game on its head moments later, but Durosinmi’s fierce close-range effort was brilliantly parried away by Ivan Provedel.
As the match entered its final stages, Plzen’s momentum received another boost when Lazio’s Nicolo Rovella was sent off in the 77th minute for a high boot on Sulc following a VAR review.
The hosts surged forward in search of a decisive goal, but Lazio’s defense stood firm.
Matters worsened for the Italian side when Samuel Gigot saw red for a reckless challenge, leaving them with just nine men on the pitch.
Yet, just when it seemed Lazio would settle for a draw, they produced a stunning twist in the eighth minute of added time.
Isaksen, having earlier missed a golden chance, redeemed himself in spectacular fashion, curling a brilliant finish into the far corner to hand Lazio an improbable advantage ahead of the second leg in Rome.
