Lazio secured their spot in the Europa League Round of 16 with a dominant 3-1 win at Ajax, thanks to goals from Loum Tchaouna, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and a stunning strike by Pedro.
The Aquile had been perfect in the tournament until their controversial 0-0 draw against Ludogorets, where a blatant penalty was denied even after a VAR review.
Lazio were missing Alessio Romagnoli and Matias Vecino through injury, while their supporters were banned from the Johan Cruijff ArenA due to security concerns.
Ajax, managed by Francesco Farioli, had several players unavailable, including Owen Wijndal, Davy Klaassen, Sivert Mannsverk, Amourricho Van Axel-Dongen, Gaston Avila, and former Roma midfielder Benjamin Tahirovic.
Ajax had an early chance with Bertrand Traoré curling wide, and Taty Castellanos nearly capitalized on a sloppy back-pass from Youri Baas, a warning sign for the opening goal.
Boulaye Dia put pressure on Kenneth Taylor, forcing a poor pass that Castellanos seized on, sending Tchaouna through to score past goalkeeper Remko Pasveer.
Brian Brobbey failed to time his jump on an Ajax corner, and Castellanos nearly intercepted another poor back-pass from Baas, though Pasveer managed to clear.
Ajax came close to equalizing with a Castellanos shot and Brobbey header that both narrowly missed.
The equalizer came early in the second half, as Luca Pellegrini cleared Taylor’s header off the line from a free kick, but was powerless to prevent Traoré’s rebound, which found the top corner from 10 yards out.
Lazio quickly regained the lead within five minutes. Mattia Zaccagni, a substitute, sprinted down the left and delivered a cross that Dele-Bashiru finished at the back post, with Pasveer unable to prevent the goal.
Pasveer kept Ajax in the game with a double save to deny Tchaouna’s solo run and Castellanos’ offside follow-up, while Pellegrini nearly gifted Brobbey a goal with a poorly executed back-pass to his goalkeeper.
Lazio sealed their victory with a breathtaking goal. Nuno Tavares, who replaced the injured Pellegrini, began the move from his own half, passing to Tchaouna, who flicked it through for Pedro to score with a gorgeous left-footed sweep into the top corner from the edge of the area.
Castellanos had a chance to make it 4-1 but saw his dinked shot blocked by Pasveer’s outstretched hand.
Traoré then hit the crossbar with a curling shot, and Mandas made a brilliant save to deny Chuba Akpom at close range.
Akpom also missed a free header from six yards, and in stoppage time, a cross-shot from Gaaei rattled the frame of the Lazio goal.
