Lazio leave it late to sink Atalanta

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ROME, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Lazio beat Atalanta 3-2 with a late goal from Matias Vecino after the visitors had fought their way back from 2-0 down at the Stadio Olimpico in Serie A on Sunday.

With 83 minutes on the clock and the game heading for a 2-2 draw, Vecino let a headed pass from Valentin Castellanos bounce before thumping in a stunning half volley.

Lazio had taken the lead after five minutes through an own goal when a Luis Alberto corner ricocheted off the chest of Atalanta's Charles De Ketelaere and into his own net.

It was a rampant start from the home side and they made their early superiority count six minutes later to double their lead.

Mattia Zaccagni's crossfield pass found Felipe Anderson on the right wing and he whipped the ball across the face of the goal where Castellanos fired home his first goal for Lazio.

"It's our Achilles heel which we've been carrying with us for a while," Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini said about his side conceding early goals.

"When we go two goals down, it's difficult to get a result," Gasperini added.

Lazio, with only one other home win this season, should have been 3-0 up with 14 minutes on the clock.

Luis Alberto's free kick struck the Atalanta wall and the ball fell to Nicolo Casale in front of goal, but from close range his shot was blocked by goalkeeper Juan Musso.

"The first 25 minutes were of a very high level. It's a pity because after half an hour the lead could have been bigger," Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri said.

Atalanta got into the game and pulled one back in the 33rd minute when Matteo Ruggeri's cross was met by the unmarked Ederson who powered his header past Lazio keeper Ivan Provedel.

They drew level in the 63rd minute after a short corner to Teun Koopmeiners and his cross to the far post was headed home by Sead Kolasinac, but Lazio had the last word thanks to Vecino.

He had replaced a tired Luis Alberto and the goal was his second this week after the Uruguayan netted in Lazio's 2-1 win at Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday.

"We had a great game in the first half hour, we have to play like that for the whole 90 minutes," Vecino said.

Atalanta pushed for a late equaliser, but Lazio held out, even as their manager Maurizio Sarri was sent off for dissent in the final minutes.

Lazio are 12th in the standings with 10 points from eight games, while Atalanta remained in sixth place with 13 points. (Reporting by Trevor Stynes; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Christian Radnedge and Ed Osmond)