March 30, (THEWILL)- Lazio marked Igor Tudor’s first match in charge with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico. The match appeared destined for a stalemate until Adam Marusić’s late heroics, nodding home a sublime cross from Matteo Guendouzi in the final minute of regulation time.
The clash was a cagey affair from the outset, with both sides exhibiting attacking intent but struggling to carve out clear-cut opportunities. Juventus, missing suspended talisman Dusan Vlahovic, came closest in the first half through Gleison Bremer’s header and Federico Chiesa’s stinging effort, both of which were expertly dealt with by Lazio’s Greek custodian, Christos Mandas.
Lazio’s offensive threat was spearheaded by the lively Taty Castellanos and Felipe Anderson, with the pair going close on several occasions. However, as the match wore on, chances became increasingly scarce, with defences on top and the prospect of a goalless draw looming large.
Just when it seemed that the spoils would be shared, Marusić emerged as the unlikely hero, meeting Guendouzi’s pinpoint delivery with a powerful header that left Wojciech Szczesny grasping at thin air. The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Lazio faithful, who had witnessed their side’s second victory over Juventus in their last 10 meetings across all competitions.
The result compounds Juventus’ woes on the road, with Massimiliano Allegri’s men now winless in their last four away fixtures (D1, L3). For Lazio and Tudor, however, it represents the perfect start to a new era, as the Roman club looks to build on this morale-boosting triumph.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
