Rome rivals share spoils in thriller

LAZIO and Roma fought out an exciting 2-2 draw in a dramatic Rome derby at The Stadio Olimpico on Sunday night with Sinisa Mihajlovic missing the chance to give the biancocelesti all three points after seeing his late penalty saved by Roma keeper Francesco Antonioli

 

Yugoslavian defender Mihajlovic failed from the spot six minutes from time as Lazio missed the chance to move into third spot in Serie A.

After a goalless first half Italian international Stefano Fiore fired Lazio in front six minutes after the restart.

The lead was short-lived as Marco Delvecchio levelled for Roma just six minutes later when he pounced on a loose ball in the box to score his ninth goal in Rome derbies.

Roma then turned the game on its head with Argentine ace Gabriel Batistuta firing the giallorossi in front on 65 minutes after a terrible mistake by Fernando Couto.

Lazio came roaring back and drew level with Yugoslavian international Dejan Stankovic heading home after 74 minutes.

The drama did not end there as the biancocelesti missed the chance to take the spoils with Mihajlovic failing from the penalty spot four minutes from time.

French defender Jonathan Zebina conceded the spot-kick pulling back at substitute Simone Inzaghi in the box.

 

Mihajlovic stepped up and took responsibility but saw his powerful left-footed effort brilliantly saved by Antonioli as Roma clung on for a point.

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