ROME, ITALY — Deep into the 100th minute of a pulsating encounter, Danilo Cataldi kept his nerve from the penalty spot to hand Lazio a precious 3-2 victory over Genoa in a Serie A thriller that had everything. The midfielder's ice-cool conversion capped a dramatic finale at the Olimpico, where three penalties and two VAR reviews turned what seemed a comfortable home win into a heart-stopping affair.
Lazio appeared in control when Pedro opened the scoring from the spot in the 56th minute, his right-footed strike nestling into the bottom left corner after Aarón Martín was penalized for handball following a VAR check. The Biancocelesti enjoyed the majority of possession at 55.1% and looked poised to cruise to three points when Kenneth Taylor doubled their advantage in the 62nd minute. The Dutch midfielder latched onto Gustav Isaksen's perfectly weighted pass and slotted a composed right-footed finish from the centre of the box past the helpless Genoa goalkeeper.
But Genoa, fighting for survival in 17th place, refused to surrender. The Grifone pulled one back through Ruslan Malinovskyi's 67th-minute penalty, awarded after another lengthy VAR consultation ruled Mario Gila had handled in the area. The Ukrainian's left-footed conversion to the bottom left corner injected fresh belief into the visitors, who had managed just four shots on target from their 16 attempts but were making them count when it mattered most.
The equalizer arrived in the 75th minute and was worth the wait. Vítinha, who had seen a close-range header brilliantly saved by Ivan Provedel in the 35th minute, finally beat the Lazio custodian with a clinical right-footed finish from the left side of the six-yard box following a corner. The goal sent the traveling support into raptures and left the Olimpico stunned, as Genoa's resilience threatened to earn an unlikely point.
The match descended into chaos in stoppage time, with both sides desperately seeking a winner. Lazio threw bodies forward, and their persistence paid dividends when Leo Østigård was adjudged to have handled Petar Ratkov's goal-bound header in the penalty area. After yet another VAR review that stretched nerves to breaking point, referee awarded the spot-kick, and Cataldi stepped up to drill his right-footed effort into the bottom left corner with virtually the last kick of the game.
The statistics reflected a contest more evenly matched than Lazio's superior league position suggested. Despite 16 attempts, Genoa managed just four on target, highlighting their wastefulness in front of goal. The home side's four shots on target from 14 attempts proved more clinical, with three finding the net. Both goalkeepers made two saves apiece in a match that saw 12 fouls committed by each side, while the referee brandished five yellow cards as tensions boiled over in the closing stages.
Luca Pellegrini, Leo Østigård, and Ruslan Malinovskyi all saw yellow for Genoa, with Brooke Norton-Cuffy joining them in the book during the frantic finale. Ivan Provedel's caution for Lazio came amid the penalty drama, while his opposite number endured a difficult evening between the posts. The match featured three corners for Genoa and five for Lazio, with the visitors making their set-piece delivery count for Vítinha's equalizer.
The tactical battle saw Lazio dominate possession but struggle to break down Genoa's organized defensive structure for long periods. Daniel Maldini and Pedro orchestrated attacks from advanced positions, while Toma Basic and Danilo Cataldi controlled the tempo in midfield. Genoa's counter-attacking threat, spearheaded by Lorenzo Colombo and Vítinha, kept Lazio honest throughout, with Morten Frendrup and Mikael Ellertsson providing industry in the engine room.
Substitutions played a crucial role in the drama. Lazio manager introduced Petar Ratkov and Matteo Cancellieri in the 73rd minute, seeking fresh legs to break the deadlock. The changes nearly backfired when Genoa equalized, but Ratkov's involvement in the winning penalty vindicated the tactical switch. Genoa's introduction of Caleb Ekuban and Maxwel Cornet couldn't prevent the late heartbreak, though both nearly snatched a winner before Cataldi's decisive intervention.
The victory represents a crucial three points for Lazio in their pursuit of European qualification, while Genoa's brave performance ultimately counted for nothing in their relegation battle. The Grifone showed character to twice come from behind but will rue their inability to see out the draw in the dying moments. For Lazio, the win maintains their push up the table, though the manner of victory will concern their coaching staff ahead of sterner tests.
This result caps a fine run for Lazio before Bologna. Genoa must dust themselves off before facing Napoli on February 8, knowing that performances like this deserve more than empty hands.