Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri has identified a critical missed opening by Fisayo Dele-Bashiru as the defining factor in his side’s high-scoring 3-3 draw with Udinese on Monday evening. The Nigeria international was introduced during the second period at the Stadio Olimpico as the Roman giants attempted to solidify their control over a volatile Serie A encounter. With the hosts leading 2-1 and appearing to be in the ascendancy, Dele-Bashiru was presented with a clear opportunity to extend the advantage—a chance that went clinicaly begging and, according to Sarri, allowed the momentum to swing back toward the visitors.
The match itself was a rollercoaster of tactical shifts and late-game heroics. Udinese initially stunned the home crowd when Kingsley Ehizibue opened the scoring, but Lazio found their rhythm after the interval. Following an equalizer from Luca Pellegrini, Pedro struck to put the “Biancocelesti” ahead, setting the stage for the crucial moment that Sarri would later reflect upon with regret.
Addressing the media in his post-match analysis, the veteran tactician admitted that his squad struggled to find their footing during the early exchanges, though he praised their subsequent resurgence.
“We entered the match as a team with minimal mental and emotional energy, and it took us about half an hour to get into the game,” Sarri remarked to the press, as documented by Fantacalcio. “The second half was outstanding, but the turning point at 2-1 was Dele-Bashiru’s missed opportunity.”
The final stages of the contest were marked by absolute chaos. Arthur Atta appeared to have snatched a victory for Udinese with a rapid-fire brace, including what many believed was a 92nd-minute winner. However, Lazio’s persistence was rewarded deep into injury time when Daniel Maldini pounced from close range to rescue a point. While the dramatic finish provided a spectacle for the neutral observer, Sarri’s focus remained on the missed opportunity to put the game beyond reach, highlighting the thin margins that define results in the Italian top flight.
