Serie A: AC Milan Suffer Heartbreak as Pedro's Late Penalty Gives Lazio Victory

Lazio stunned AC Milan with a late penalty from Pedro, securing a 2-1 win and moving into fourth place in the Serie A standings.

Lazio secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over AC Milan at the San Siro, courtesy of Pedro's dramatic last-gasp penalty. This win propelled Lazio back into the top four of Serie A, marking their seventh triumph in their last 11 away matches in the Italian top flight.

Both teams entered the clash with the aim of bolstering their European aspirations. While Lazio remain in contention for a UEFA Champions League spot, Milan's focus is on catching Bologna to secure a UEFA Conference League berth. Milan's recent defeat to Bologna in midweek had already dealt a blow to their hopes, making this loss to Lazio even more detrimental.

The visitors started strongly, with Mike Maignan forced to make an early save to deny Boulaye Dia within the first three minutes. Dia then headed wide, followed by Gustav Isaksen firing a shot past the post as Lazio asserted their dominance. A crucial last-ditch challenge by Yunus Musah prevented Dia from testing Maignan again in a one-on-one situation, although replays were unclear on whether Musah actually made contact.

Milan eventually gained momentum, with Tijjani Reijnders drawing a save from Ivan Provedel. However, Lazio soon regained control, and after Maignan denied Isaksen once more, the Biancocelesti took the lead. A swift counterattack found Adam Marusic, and although Maignan managed to get a hand to the attempt, he could only deflect it into Mattia Zaccagni's path for a straightforward finish.

The second half saw Samuel Gigot have a shot saved by Maignan, while Joao Felix blasted a shot over the bar at the other end. Lazio's victory was ultimately sealed by Pedro's late penalty, securing a crucial three points for the Biancocelesti.

AC Milan's hopes of mounting a comeback against Lazio were severely dented when Strahinja Pavlovic received a straight red card for fouling Gustav Isaksen as he bore down on goal. This decision initially deflated the Rossoneri, and despite their continued efforts to find an equalizer, Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel was largely untroubled.

However, Milan's fortunes changed with the introduction of several attacking players, including Chukwueze, who made an instant impact. The substitute rose high to meet Rafael Leao's cross, nodding the ball in off the bar to level the score. Emboldened by this equalizer, Milan pressed for a winner, but it was Lazio who ultimately delivered the decisive blow.

Lazio with a late, late winner in #MilanLazio! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/DCQZvOLHBe

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) March 2, 2025

In the dying moments of the game, Lazio were awarded a penalty when Mike Maignan brought down Isaksen in the area. After consulting the pitchside monitor, referee Gianluca Mangianello had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Pedro stepped up to take the penalty and made no mistake, slotting the ball home from 12 yards to secure a dramatic victory for Lazio.

This thrilling win propels Lazio into fourth place in the Serie A standings, leapfrogging Juventus in the process. The Rome-based outfit now holds a nine-point advantage over AC Milan, who suffered their first defeat in nine Serie A home games. Furthermore, Milan has lost three consecutive league matches for the first time since February 2023, ramping up the pressure on manager Sergio Conceicao.