Lazio defeated Inter 2-1 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Saturday night in Serie A, ending their two month winless run.
Antonio Candreva stuck a great effort to take the early lead for the Biancocelesti which was cancelled out by Mauro Icardi. Candreva converted a saved penalty late on to grab a massive win. Felipe Melo completely lost his head as well, sent off in the final minute before Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic was also dismissed.
With Stefano Pioli fearing his season with Lazio could not get any worse, they were spanked into the lead by Candreva right from the off.
A wonderful move from the training ground saw a corner played along the ground onto the end of the box for the Italian to strike a brilliant effort first-time into the bottom corner, leaving Samir Handanovic motionless.
Candreva should have doubled Lazio’s lead on the stroke of half-time but miscued his effort from close range.
A sight in football that usually comes and goes every now and again arose after ten minutes of the second-half, when Inter were awarded with an indirect free-kick six yards from goal due to a supposed back-pass.
Alex Telles was the one to hit it but a superb block yet again thwarted the Nerazzurri from gaining a valuable equaliser.
The leveller did come just after the hour mark, Ivan Perisic playing Icardi with a pin-point pass and the Argentinian took the ball in his stride before stroking it home.
But with just five minutes remaining a stupid challenge from Felipe Melo saw Lazio awarded a penalty, and despite Handanovic saving the spot-kick from Candreva, the Italian tapped home the rebound.
The Brazilian’s misery continued after being sent off a few minutes later for a horrendous challenge, before Milinkovic-Savic also received his marching orders.
The result still leaves Inter top of the league prior to the winter break.
