Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri has voiced his frustration over what he felt was a clear refereeing error during his side’s dramatic Coppa Italia quarter-final victory over Bologna, Soccernet.ng reports.
The former Chelsea manager insists that Lewis Ferguson should have been punished for a foul on Fisayo Dele-Bashiru in the first half of that encounter.
The Nigeria international was handed a rare start and completed the full match, stepping in after Toma Basic picked up a knock. Dele-Bashiru made the most of his opportunity, playing a key role in the visitor's equaliser as the contest ended 1-1 before the visitors triumphed in a penalty shootout at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
Early in the game, the seven-time Coppa Italia winners carved open Bologna’s defence with a flowing move that ended with Luca Pellegrini’s perfectly weighted through ball sending Dele-Bashiru racing clear. As he closed in on goal, the midfielder was pulled back by Ferguson and tumbled to the turf, an incident Sarri felt warranted a red card.
Speaking to Sportmediaset (as per Lazio News 24) after the match, the Lazio coach did not hide his displeasure.
“Much worse has happened to us,” Sarri said.
“This guy is at fault and he blows his whistle in other areas of the pitch, but not there. Because if he blows his whistle there, he should give a red card. But the foul is there.”
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Dele-Bashiru assist sparks Lazio comeback before shootout drama
Despite the controversial moment, Lazio grew into the game after an early scare that saw Ivan Provedel forced into a sharp save from Santiago Castro.
Bologna eventually broke the deadlock midway through the first half when Nikola Moro’s corner was headed home by Castro, marking a rare occasion the hosts scored first at home.
Lazio responded with renewed urgency after the break and were rewarded when Tijjani Noslin tapped in Dele-Bashiru’s pinpoint cross to restore parity. The visitors pushed for a winner through efforts from Nicolo Rovella and Danilo Cataldi but were unable to find a decisive goal in normal time.
Bologna threatened late on, with Nicolo Cambiaghi striking the crossbar after Provedel’s initial stop and Riccardo Orsolini flashing narrowly wide, yet the match moved into penalties.
Lazio immediately seized control as Nuno Tavares converted and Provedel saved Ferguson’s spot-kick. Further misses from Orsolini proved costly, allowing Kenneth Taylor to seal Lazio’s passage into the semi-finals.
The result extended Lazio’s unbeaten run away from home to six matches and set up another Coppa Italia semi-final appearance in three years.
