Mantova sent Lazio out of the Coppa Italia with a 2-0 win in the Round of 64 on Saturday evening. The visitors held firm against a side that had been cruising through the early rounds, ending a run of five straight victories for the hosts. It was a night where patience paid off and Lazio were left flat-footed when it mattered.
The match stayed quiet until the second half, when Mantova changed shape at the break. Francesco Ruocco broke the deadlock in the seventy-fifth minute, and Isaac Cajazzo added a late seal in stoppage time. Lazio managed to create chances — they had four big opportunities — but could not find an answer. The decision to sit deeper and hit on the break looked the right call by then.
There were plenty of bookings on both sides, with Lazio picking up three yellows and Mantova one. The substitutions came in waves around the hour mark, as both managers tried to find something. Ruocco and Cajazzo were the difference, converting their moments when Lazio's defence had turned it around after the break but then lost its focus.
The numbers tell the story of a one-sided encounter that did not look like one. Lazio held 70 per cent possession and completed 636 passes, but their shot accuracy was just 14 per cent. Mantova had 30 per cent of the ball and 58 per cent accuracy, with seven shots on target against three. Expected goals were almost level — 2.2 for Lazio, 2.28 for the visitors — which suggests the result was fairer than the flow of the game implied. The wheels came off for the hosts when they pushed forward without structure.
Lazio are now out of the competition, while Mantova move into the next round. The scoreline reflects a team that found no answer to a disciplined setup, and a side that kept them in it until the final moments. Three games and three wins for Mantova now, and the old head settled them down when it counted.