News Focus
- Pedro scores the decisive goal in his final appearance for the Rome club.
- Lazio finish their season with victory after recent cup final heartbreak.
- Pisa suffer ninth straight defeat and end the campaign bottom of the table.
- Home fans boycott the match despite the Spanish winger’s emotional farewell.
- Maurizio Sarri’s future remains uncertain amid speculation of his exit.
Pedro Rodríguez signed off from Lazio in perfect fashion. The Spanish forward netted the winning strike as the Biancocelesti came from behind to defeat relegated Pisa 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico.
The home side entered this final fixture in low spirits. They had suffered back-to-back setbacks in the Coppa Italia final against Inter Milan and the heated Rome derby. Reports suggested head coach Maurizio Sarri would depart, while president Claudio Lotito had publicly attacked both his squad and the supporters.
Even though this marked Pedro’s goodbye to the capital, the ultras maintained their protest. They stayed away from the stands throughout the contest.
Team news brought further concerns for Sarri. Nuno Tavares, Nicolò Rovella and Kenneth Taylor were all banned. Mattia Zaccagni, Ivan Provedel and Edoardo Motta faced injury setbacks. This forced 21-year-old Alessio Furlanetto to start between the posts for only his second senior appearance.
The visitors arrived in equally poor mood. Pisa had already dropped down to Serie B after just one year in the top division. They carried a miserable run of eight consecutive losses into this clash.
The action began quickly. Isak Vural went close within the first minute, but his curling effort missed the target. At the other end, Adrian Semper produced a superb fingertip stop to deny Matteo Cancellieri after a defensive slip.
Adam Marusic struck the woodwork on eight minutes. His powerful shot from a tight angle smashed against the near post following Cancellieri’s clever pass.
Pedro almost opened the scoring with a trademark bending shot. However, Semper once again showed sharp reflexes to push the ball wide.
Against the run of play, the away side grabbed the lead midway through the first half. Reda Belahyane lost possession in the centre of the pitch. Pisa broke forward rapidly, with Michel Aebischer delivering a cross for Stefano Moreo to head home from close range.
The woodwork saved Lazio moments later. Furlanetto produced a vital block from another dangerous cross as Pisa pushed for a second.
The equaliser arrived soon after. Belahyane made amends for his earlier mistake by sprinting down the left flank. He nutmegged his marker before squaring for Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. The midfielder swivelled smartly and fired low into the net from 12 yards.
Pedro then wrote his name into the headlines. On 35 minutes, he collected the ball outside the penalty area. The veteran winger shifted onto his left foot and curled a precise finish into the far corner.
Before the break, Luca Pellegrini forced another save from Semper. However, defender Mario Gila pulled up with a muscle strain and had to leave the pitch.
The second period saw fewer clear chances. Pedro created a golden opportunity for Tijjani Noslin, but Semper blocked the shot with his legs.
The supporters rose to applaud when Pedro left the pitch for the final time in a Lazio shirt.
Pisa’s misery continued when Mehdi Leris twisted his ankle badly. At the death, Boulaye Dia somehow missed an open goal after good work from Noslin.
Daniel Maldini tested Semper with a late curler, but the Croatian keeper tipped it over. The result confirmed a ninth straight loss for Pisa, who finish the season rooted to the bottom of the Serie A table.
Scorers: Moreo 24 (Pisa), Dele-Bashiru 33 (Lazio), Pedro 35 (Lazio)