Lazio’s 2-1 win over Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday evening was a ‘dirty victory’ but a deserved one.
That’s according to Paolo Di Canio, who believes the Italians were worthy winners at Celtic Park despite their last gasp winner.
Celtic hosted Lazio in matchday two of the group stages last night but were unable to pick up any points after a dramatic winner from forward Pedro.
The Scottish side had taken the lead in the 12th minute via Kyogo Furuhashi before Matias Vecino levelled in the 29th minute.
The game stayed that way right until the dying moments of the game, when Pedro rose highest to aim a header into the far corner in the fifth minute of added time.
The strike was the epitome of a last-gasp winner, with Celtic left devastated after a game in which the two sides had been more than equal and a share of the points would have been fair.
Instead, it was Lazio who walked away with the win and all three points, something Di Canio believes was deserved, even if it wasn’t the cleanest of wins.
“This time Lazio overturned Celtic after the opposite had happened in previous matches,” he said.
“The success came at a critical moment; it was a game won in a dirty way and it was needed. Three substitutes, Isaksen, Castellanos and Guendouzi, fought on the ball and it decided who has the international pedigree.
“Pedro hit with the head like that on purpose, he knows that he can’t push it.”
