Criscito stunner shocks Lazio, Fiorentina saved by VAR

Milan (AFP) – Genoa captain Domenico Criscito scored deep into injury time to dent Lazio’s Champions League ambitions as his side came from behind to win 2-1 in Serie A on Sunday.

Earlier on, Europa League hopefuls Fiorentina were saved by VAR amid controversy after the referee disallowed rivals SPAL a goal and instead awarded a penalty which the Tuscans converted before winning 4-1.

Milan Badelj had given injury-depleted Lazio a lift before the break in north-western Italy after their Europa League round of 32, first-leg defeat to Sevilla midweek.

But Genoa punished the Romans late in the second half with Antonio Sanabria scoring on 75 minutes and Criscito sealing victory with a stunning half-volley from a distance three minutes into additional time.

Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio remain seventh, equal on points with Atalanta and AS Roma, who play Bologna on Monday.

In the first game of the day Fiorentina kept in the running for European football next season with a win over SPAL, amid VAR dispute in Ferrara.

Mattia Valoti’s deflected strike after 75 minutes had been greeted with delight by the home crowd as it had given relegation-threatened SPAL a 2-1 advantage.

But the referee immediately ordered a video review which confirmed Felipe had fouled Federico Chiesa in the build-up to the goal which he disallowed and instead awarded Fiorentina a penalty at the other end of the field.

Jordan Veretout stepped up and converted from the spot with the decision proving to be a killer blow for SPAL who instead of being 2-1 up were trailing by the same score.

The hosts scrambled to get back into the game but conceded a goal with Giovanni Simeone adding a third minutes later, and Brazilian Gerson a fourth two minutes from time as Fiorentina move up to eighth in the table three place off the European places

SPAL had originally taken the lead through Andrea Petagna on 36 minutes before Edimilson Fernandes grabbed the equaliser for the visitors just before the break.

“They robbed us,” complained SPAL president Walter Mattioli.

“If you have to cancel a goal for a foul like that, it makes me laugh.”

SPAL sit three points above the relegation zone after their 12th defeat of the campaign.

Elsewhere, Empoli just two points above the drop zone, beat midtable Sassuolo 3-0 for their first win of 2019, as Udinese squeezed past bottom club Chievo 1-0.