In the intense Rome derby, Lazio emerged victorious against their rivals Roma, securing their place in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia. As the heated match unfolded, three players were shown red cards.

Lazio have secured their spot in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over their rivals Roma in a typically intense Rome derby. The match saw a total of three players being sent off, adding to the drama on the pitch.

In the absence of club captain Ciro Immobile and Luis Alberto due to injuries, Lazio took to the Stadio Olimpico with Christos Mandas making his debut in goal. On the other hand, Roma handed a first start to 18-year-old Dutch defender Dean Huijsen, who recently joined the club on loan from Juventus.

The first half was a tense affair with limited opportunities for both sides. Taty Castellanos’ deflected effort was the closest Lazio came to breaking the deadlock. However, Roma suffered a setback when forward Paulo Dybala was forced off due to injury at half-time.

The game came alive in the second half, with Matias Vecino meeting Felipe Anderson’s cross, only to be denied by a brilliant one-handed save from Roma goalkeeper Rui Patricio. But it was from the resulting corner that Lazio took the lead. Castellanos was brought down by Huijsen in the box, resulting in a penalty. Mattia Zaccagni confidently converted the spot-kick, sending Patricio the wrong way.

Roma pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages, with Andrea Belotti’s low drive being kept out and Romelu Lukaku’s overhead kick sailing over the crossbar. As the match neared its conclusion, the intensity boiled over, leading to three players being shown red cards.

Lazio’s Pedro received his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card for a scuffle with Leandro Paredes, ruling him out of the first leg of the semi-final. Shortly after, two Roma players were also sent off. Sardar Azmoun was dismissed for an altercation with Nicolo Rovella, while Gianluca Mancini saw red for dissent after the final whistle.

Overall, it was a thrilling and fiery Rome derby, living up to its reputation as one of the most fiercely contested fixtures in Italian football. Lazio can now look forward to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, while Roma will be left to reflect on a disappointing exit from the competition.