In just four days the Stadio Olimpico has watched two goals from Pedro boosting SS Lazio both in the Europa League and Serie A competitions. The Tenerife-born attacker has displayed a superb performance this week, with the ice on the cake against Empoli scoring the winner in the final stage of the game. Before that Zaccagni could equalise Esposito's opener, but it was Pedro who grabbed the all three points. An outstanding week by the Spaniard to relaunch the Laziali.
It was the visitors who took the surprise lead early, as Ivan Provedel slipped when the Giuseppe Pezzella cross came in and was unable to get back on his feet in time to stop the Sebastiano Esposito header. But after a hard worked first half Lazio finally equalised deep into first-half stoppages. It was yet another assist for Nuno Tavares, who got down the left and stood up a cross that Zaccagni steered with his head into the far top corner from 12 yards.
Lazio received a penalty when Pezzella clattered into Dia and the referee pulled it back after the advantage failed to materialise. Castellanos tried to drill it straight down the middle, but Vasquez parried with his legs and the striker then nodded the rebound off target too.
Just days after scoring in the Europa League against OGC Nice, Pedro came off the bench and put Lazio in advantage. He sprung the offside trap on a Castellanos through ball and fired the rocket in off the underside of the crossbar from a tight angle. The goal revealed itself the decider several minutes later, to ensure Lazio’s fourth consecutive victory in all competitions.
- Match stats:
Lazio (4-2-3-1): Provedel; Lazzari (38' Marusic), Gila, Romagnoli, Nuno Tavares (86' Pellegrini); Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen (73' Pedro), Dia (86' Castrovilli), Zaccagni (86' Noslin); Castellanos.
Empoli (3-5-2): Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Fazzini (65' Henderson), Grassi, Anjorin (65' Ekong), Pezzella (53' Cacace); Esposito (83' De Sciglio), Solbakken (83' Colombo).
Bookings: Giovanni Ayroldi (sez. Molfetta) booked Pezzella (29'), Fazzini (30'), Rovella (45'+3'), Castellanos (53'), Gyasi (78'), Grassi (82').
Goals: Esposito (8'), Zaccagni (45'+3'), Pedro (84')
2 - 1 
