SS Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi on Sunday was sent off and initially refused to leave the touchline after too vigorously celebrating his team’s stoppage-time equalizer in a dramatic 1-1 draw against makeshift AC Milan in Serie A at a wet Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
After ’keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma kept Milan on level terms with two outstanding saves, Franck Kessie had put the visitors ahead in the 78th minute, only for Joaquin Correa to rescue a point for dominant Lazio in the 94th minute.
The Argentine’s goal led to wild celebrations on the home bench, with Inzaghi, who had cut an angry figure on the touchline throughout the match, being sent off for leaving his technical area.
Photo: EPA-EFE
At first, he stayed in his area before finally being coaxed to depart after a few minutes of protesting.
“I didn’t understand the reason for the sending off, then he [referee Luca Banti] explained that I had left the technical area,” Inzaghi said. “I apologized, I was so keen on this game and my boys were there. I was probably a little nervous and frustrated because we were losing a game we didn’t deserve to lose. Correa’s equalizer was well-deserved.”
The draw meant Lazio stayed in fourth place in Serie A with 23 points, one ahead of their opponents who are fifth.
Donnarumma made a superb save in the first half to deny Ciro Immobile from close range and surpassed himself by managing to claw Lazio defender Wallace’s downward header off the line in the 71st minute.
Milan, without suspended striker Gonzalo Higuain and also missing half a dozen regulars through injury, still managed to take the lead when Davide Calabria pulled the ball back and Kessie’s shot was deflected into the net by Wallace.
Milan held on until deep into stoppage-time when Cristian Zapata headed a clearance straight at Correa and the Argentine controlled the ball with his thigh before scoring with a low shot on the turn.
Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso said injuries had left his team in an “emergency” situation.
“It wasn’t easy to play with so many players in a role that was new for them,” Gattuso said. “We are in an emergency, but it is no good crying about it.”
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