Torino drew 1-1 with Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico in the early kick-off on Sunday in Serie A, in a very entertaining encounter on a sunny day in Turin.
I Granata stiker Andrea Belotti gave the hosts an early lead, before Ciro Immobile missed a first half penalty which was duly punished late in the second half by the Biancocelesti, as Lucas Biglia slotted home the equaliser from the penalty spot.
The home side set the early running and deservedly opened the scoring after 12 minutes. A cross from the left from Immobile took a wicked deflection and landed at the feet of Afriyie Acquah, who’s shot was saved by Federico Marchetti in the Lazio goal, but Belotti was first to react and slide the ball home from inside the six yard box.
The Biancocelesti created their first chance shortly after when Marco Parolo had a powerful shot well saved by Daniele Padelli following a quickly taken corner by Felipe Anderson.
Il Toro continued to be the dominant side and should have doubled their lead after 21 minutes. Belotti cut in from the left and was fouled Danilo Cataldi in the box, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot, but the resulting spot kick was horribly fired over the bar by Immobile.
On the half hour mark Le Aquile had fine chance to equalise. Good work by Anderson on the left resulted in the Brazilian putting a dangerous cross into the box, but a superb interception by Torino defender Kamil Glik saved the day as the hosts went into the break with the slender lead.
Giampiero Ventura’s side started the second half in similar fashion to the first, and had a great chance to increase their lead ten minutes into the second half, but Belotti headed over the bar from corner after finding himself free in the box.
Just after the hour mark Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic Savic had a shot well saved by Padelli, and within a minute Parolo came so close to equalising for the Roman giants but his fine left foot shot rebounded off the post with Padelli well beaten.
The Biancocelesti continued to push as the game wore on and on 77 minutes got the goal their play deserved. Substitute Balde Diao Keita raced into the box and Toro defender Cristian Molinaro’s slight touch was enough to foul the Senegal forward and Biglia slotted home the resulting penalty kick as the sides settled for a share of the spoils.
Torino now face a trip to take on Genoa at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris next Sunday in Serie A, while Lazio head to the Czech Republic on Thursday to face Sparta Prague in the Europa League round of 16, before taking on Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday in Serie A.
