Milan Đurić scored twice, including a stoppage-time equalizer, as Monza held Lazio to a 2-2 draw in Serie A on Saturday, hampering the capital club’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League next week. next season.
The result ends Lazio’s four-game winning streak and leaves Igor Tudor’s side seventh, three points behind Roma, who occupy fifth place and the final Champions League qualifying position after the Italy has secured an additional place in next season’s competition.
Sixth-placed Atalanta are just one point ahead of Lazio but have played two games less.
At the other end of the table, relegation-threatened Sassuolo recorded a surprise – but crucial – 1-0 victory over new Serie A champions Inter Milan.
Things seemed to be going according to plan for Lazio when they took the lead in the 11th minute. Monza goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio did brilliantly to keep Daichi Kamada’s deflected shot off the bar, but Ciro Immobile tapped in the rebound.
It was the Lazio captain’s first goal since February.
Monza came close on several occasions and equalized in the 73rd when Đurić fired in the rebound after a superb save from Christos Mandas to parry Giulio Donati’s header. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but this decision was overturned by the video assistant referee.
Donati went from hero to villain 10 minutes later when his woeful back pass was intercepted by Matías Vecino, who fired past a stranded Di Gregorio and into an empty net to restore Lazio’s lead.
However, Đurić headed in Matteo Pessina’s cross in the second minute of added time.
RARE LOSS
Inter, who won their 20th Serie A title last month, suffered only their second league defeat of the season. Their only other defeat, in September, was also against Sassuolo.
Armand Laurienté returned from suspension and his 20th-minute goal was enough to give Sassuolo their second win in their last 16 matches.
Lautaro Martínez thought he had equalized just before half-time, but VAR ruled him out for offside.
Sassuolo moved to within two points of safety, just below Hellas Verona, Frosinone and Empoli who are all on the same number of points.
Empoli will host Frosinone on Sunday and Verona will play Fiorentina.
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AP Football: https://apnews.com/hub/Soccer
