AZ booked a great victory over Lazio on Tuesday evening in the eighth final of the Conference League. Pascal Jansen’s team won 1-2 in Stadio Olimpico. Lazio took the lead through Pedro, but thanks to hits from Vangelis Pavlidis and Milos Kerkez, the victory still went to AZ. The game was already completed on Tuesday because Stadio Olimpico will be occupied by AS Roma next Thursday, which will then play in the Europa League. The return in Alkmaar is scheduled for next week. That match will take place on Thursday at 9 p.m.
AZ’s starting line-up contained one other player than last Friday, when Vitesse was defeated 0-1 in the Eredivisie. Captain Jordy Clasie returned to midfield on Tuesday after a suspension, moving Djordje Mihailovic to the bench. On the side of Lazio, there were no fewer than five changes compared to the Serie A duel with Napoli (0-1 win). The main absentee was club top scorer Ciro Immobile, who was suffering from a thigh injury. He was replaced by the now 35-year-old Pedro.
Lazio started the match dominantly and was close to the opening goal several times in the first ten minutes: first Sergej Milinkovic-Savic aimed the ball just wide on a pass from Mattia Zaccagni and moments later Kerkez was important twice with a good intervention in their own penalty area. After more than fifteen minutes it was still a hit for the Romans. Clasie lost the ball in midfield, Lazio made the switch quickly and on a pass from Zaccagni, Pedro was able to tap the ball behind Mathew Ryan: 1-0.
AZ seemed to have woken up somewhat and crawled out of its shell more and more in the following phase. Sven Mijnans suddenly hit the post after more than half an hour via Danilo Cataldi and just before half-time Jens Odgaard also tried from a distance: wide. The Alkmaarders seemed to be just behind to rest, but Pavlidis decided otherwise in the 45th minute. After Lazio lost the ball in their own half, Jesper Karlsson passed the ball, after which the Greek striker tapped the ball in front of the first post with a nice foot movement: 1-1. Almost a minute later it was hit again on the other side, but Ryan tapped Milinkovic-Savic’s shot on the crossbar.
Just like at the start of the first half, Lazio dominated shortly after the break. That led to a slider from Felipe Anderson and a shot from Milinkovic-Savic, but both times Ryan made an effortless save. For the effective AZ it was hit after more than an hour of play on the other side. Lazio again lost the ball in midfield, after which Kerkez combined with Karlsson and put the 1-2 behind goalkeeper Luís Maximiano. The home team went on the hunt for the equalizer in the last half hour, but Anderson (over), Luis Alberto (blocked by Clasie), Anderson again (next) and Milinkovic-Savic (next) failed to find the goal. AZ, for example, booked a very good victory, and the Alkmaarders can finish the job next Thursday in their own home.