Lazio’s head coach, Maurizio Sarri, has pinpointed Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s missed opportunity as the pivotal moment in their thrilling 3-3 draw against Udinese in Serie A on Monday night.
The Super Eagles midfielder was brought on in the second half as Lazio sought to assert dominance in a closely fought match at the Stadio Olimpico.
With the score delicately poised at 2-1 in favor of Lazio, Dele-Bashiru had a golden opportunity to increase the lead but was unable to convert, a moment Sarri believes altered the course of the game.
In his reflections on the outcome, Sarri acknowledged that his team lacked intensity in the initial phases but showed considerable improvement after halftime.
Nevertheless, he highlighted the moment immediately following Lazio’s lead as the critical juncture where the game slipped from their grasp.
“We entered the match as a team with minimal mental and emotional energy, and it took us about half an hour to get into the game.
“The second half was outstanding, but the turning point at 2-1 was Dele-Bashiru’s missed opportunity,” Sarri stated during the post-match press conference, as reported by Fantacalcio, emphasizing the significance of that moment in shifting momentum back to Udinese.
The match itself was characterized by dramatic shifts in momentum and late excitement, with Udinese initially taking the lead through Kingsley Ehizibue before Lazio equalized in the second half, with Luca Pellegrini scoring and Pedro putting them ahead.
The closing moments were filled with tension, as Arthur Atta netted twice in quick succession, including a stoppage-time goal that seemed to have given Udinese a vital 3-2 lead.
However, Lazio refused to give in, and deep into stoppage time, Daniel Maldini scored from close range to secure a thrilling 3-3 draw, concluding a chaotic and fiercely contested match.