Sparta Prague stun Lazio to reach Europa League quarterfinals

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:02 am

Sparta Prague produced a brilliant first-half performance to thrash Lazio 3-0 and advance to the quarterfinals of the Europa League on Thursday.

With the tie finely poised after a 1-1 draw in Prague last week, the visitors stunned the home fans inside the Stadio Olimpico with three goals in the opening period to run out 4-1 winners on aggregate.

Midfielder Borek Dockal opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a well-struck half-volley from just outside the area, with Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti getting his hand to the ball but being unable to stop it finding the bottom corner.

And the visitors doubled their lead on the night just two minutes later when Ladislav Krejci was afforded time and space to casually slot home beyond Marchetti's despairing dive.

Sparta Prague are through to the Europa League quarterfinals after scoring three first-half goals.
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The home side attempted to hit back immediately and Miroslav Klose headed over from Lucas Biglia's corner, before Stefano Mauri saw his shot tipped around the post by Sparta goalkeeper David Bicik.

However, any hopes the Serie A side had of getting back into the contest were effectively ended just before the interval when Lukas Julis exploited yet more poor defending to volley into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Lazio desperately needed an early goal in the second period and Mauri saw his shot saved by Bicik before Marco Parolo headed over from a corner, but the last remaining Italian side in the competition never really threatened to stage an unlikely revival.