Personal objective of the yr? Goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha’s weird mistake presents Galatasaray victory
The truth that Strakosha’s blunder was the sport’s solely objective added additional insult to harm.
Trying to find the breakthrough with slightly below 25 minutes remaining, Galatasaray midfielder Olimpiu Moruţan floated a hopeful cross into the Lazio field.
Lazio full-back Manuel Lazzari instigated a collection of unlucky occasions by making a meal of Morutan’s supply, slicing the ball to ship it spiraling into the sky versus clearing his traces.
But as gravity did its job, Strakosha didn’t do his — the Albanian leapt casually to pluck the ball out of the air solely to parry it straight into the left submit.
As if taunting him, the ball ricocheted again into Strakosha’s outstretched gloves earlier than nestling within the nook of the web, sparking rapturous scenes among the many Galatasaray trustworthy within the stands.
Lazio toiled for an equalizer — Sergej Milinikovic-Savic squandering a golden alternative to assist spare his goalkeeper’s blushes simply minutes after the personal objective — however struggled to interrupt down a resolute Galatasaray backline.
The house aspect weathered the storm, closing the sport out to take the three factors and ship themselves to the highest of Group E.
With the group’s different sport between Marseille and Lokomotiv Moscow ending in a draw, Strakosha and Lazio discover themselves on the backside of the group following Matchday 1.
