Lokomotiv floored by Immobile penalty double

Lokomotiv Moscow 0-3 Lazio
UEFA Europa League Group E
Thursday 25 November, RZD Arena

Goals: Lazio - Immobile (pen) 56’, (pen) 63’, Pedro 87’

Lokomotiv’s dreams of a spring European campaign were left in tatters by two Ciro Immobile penalties after half time to leave them two points adrift at the foot of the group heading into the final matchday.

The first half was a competitive if uninspiring affair, but 10 minutes after the break Silyanov was penalised for catching Petagna’s toe in the box to send him tumbling. Lazio’s captain Immobile stepped up and stroked it into the bottom left corner.

It took until about 20 minutes to go for Lokomotiv to find a shot on target, but by then they were two goals down. Dmitry Barinov clattered into Immobile just after the hour mark to see the Italian Euro 2020 winner take another spot kick. Although young stand-in keeper Daniil Khudyakov dived the right way, the ball was even more tightly tucked into the bottom corner, smacking the inside of the post to give the 17-year-old no chance.

Khudyakov still had time to prove himself with a stunning one-on-one save with his outstretched foot from Francesco Acerbi with 20 minutes to go. There was little he could do about Pedro’s wonderful strike three minutes from the end though, as the Spaniard sent half of Lokomotiv’s defence careering the wrong way before rifling a low shot through a crowd of players across goal into the bottom right corner.

In added time Sergej Milinkovic-Savic slammed an unstoppable rocket against the crossbar as if to leave a last reminder about which team had dominated proceedings.

Lokomotiv stay bottom on two points, while Lazio go second on eight points.

Next Europa League fixtures: Thursday 9 December - Marseille vs Lokomotiv; Lazio vs Galatasaray