UEL | Viktoria Plzen 1-2 Lazio: Isaksen seals dramatic victory for 9 men

PLZEN, CZECH REPUBLIC – MARCH 06: Alessio Romagnoli of SS Lazio scores a opening goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Round of 16 First Leg match between FC Viktoria Plzen and S.S. Lazio at Stadion mesta Plzne on March 06, 2025 in Plzen, Czech Republic. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Lazio achieved a remarkable result, as down to nine men they still grabbed a stoppage time victory away to Viktoria Plzen with Alessio Romagnoli and Gustav Isaksen goals.

The Biancocelesti topped the table in the league phase and were therefore top seeds in this draw, but after a last-gasp Serie A win over Milan, made the trip without Taty Castellanos, Mattia Zaccagni, Elseid Hysaj and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. Viktoria beat Real Sociedad, Anderlecht and Dynamo Kyiv before eliminating Ferencvaros in the play-offs. Christophe Kabongo was injured, but ex-Udinese striker Matej Vydra was available.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

The hosts had the ball in the net within 11 minutes when a corner was knocked on for Pavel Sulc’s chest and volley across Ivan Provedel into the far bottom corner. However, it was disallowed following the VAR On-Field Review, as Adam Marusic was pressured by offside Sampson Dweh when flicking it on, therefore interfering with play.

Instead, Lazio took the lead soon after when Tijjani Noslin flicked on the Pedro corner for Alessio Romagnoli’s header from point-blank range at the back post.

Gustav Isaksen should’ve taken the gift of a terrible back-pass, but his first touch was poor and allowed the goalkeeper to smother.

Noslin ran onto a long ball and was just about to pull the trigger when Dweh went into a crucial sliding tackle.

However, Plzen equalised when the marking was non-existent on Kalvach’s free kick floated over the top, allowing Rafiu Durosinmi a totally free header from six yards.

They threatened another soon after, the inspired Sulc pass splitting the Lazio defence in two to send Durosinmi clear, but Ivan Provedel made a big save.

Lazio went down to 10 men for the final stages, as Nicolò Rovella caught Sulc in the forehead with a high boot and the yellow card was changed to red following a VAR On-Field Review.

Viktoria Plzen pushed, but Kopic had the ball in the net only after he had obviously handled the cross first.

Samuel Gigot reduced Lazio to nine men in stoppages for his terrible two-footed tackle on Cadu, receiving a straight red card.

Lazio are down to NINE men! Gigot receives his marching orders for a horror tackle 🟥

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/AYYjDZktKv

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 6, 2025

Provedel had to flap a Matej Vydra glancing header off the line from a corner at the near post.

However, just as they were scrambling to stay afloat and down to nine men, Lazio snatched victory with the last kick of the game. Matteo Guendouzi laid it off for Isaksen, who decided to go for it and bent a left-foot stunner into the far top corner from 12 yards.

GUSTAV ISAKEN WINS IT FOR NINE MAN LAZIO DEEP IN INJURY TIME 🚀

What a strike from Isaksen, his curling effort finding the far corner, giving Lazio a 2-1 lead, despite having two men sent off 🤯

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/jVbybWE3pj

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 6, 2025

Viktoria Plzen 1-2 Lazio

Romagnoli 18 (L), Durosinmi 53 (P), Isaksen 98 (L)

Sent off: Rovella 77 (L), Gigot 93 (L)

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