Pro Sports

Lazio draws 1-1 at Zenit, stays unbeaten in Champions League

Posted November 04, 2020 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Lazio's Joaquin Correa kicks the ball during the Champions League Group F soccer match between Zenit St.Petersburg and Lazio at the Saint Petersburg stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Mike Kireev) The Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) - A late equalizer from Felipe Caicedo gave understrength Lazio a 1-1 draw at Zenit St. Petersburg on Wednesday to stay unbeaten in Group F in the Champions League.

Caicedo redirected a cross from Francesco Acerbi eight minutes from time after Aleksandr Erokhin had given Zenit a first-half lead.

Lazio was without European Golden Shoe winner Ciro Immobile, goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha and midfielder Lucas Leiva. All three players failed to pass UEFA's coronavirus screening despite being available for the Roman club in Serie A at the weekend.

'œThe team is alive, has a great spirit and we've shown it,'ť Lazio midfielder Marco Parolo said. 'œWe missed key players, but we're united as a group. We could have done better in the first half, but we were taking almost no risks. We knew they would start well, and that we could react.'ť

Playing in Europe's elite competition for the first time in 13 years, Lazio has five points from three games. Club Brugge and Borussia Dortmund played later Wednesday.

Erokhin scored with an acrobatic volley in the 32nd.

Lazio struggled for long stretches before Caicedo used one touch to sweep in Acerbi's cross.

Caicedo also scored a late winner off the bench in Lazio's wild 4-3 victory at Torino in Serie A on Sunday.

'œIt's an important moment for me,'ť Caicedo said. 'œIf we continue like this we can progress from this group. We reacted well tonight. We showed character.'ť

Up next for Lazio is a visit by nine-time Italian league champion Juventus on Sunday.

Lazio hosts Zenit in its next European match on Nov. 24.

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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Lazio's Felipe Caicedo celebrates with teammate Andreas Pereira after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League Group F soccer match between Zenit St.Petersburg and Lazio at the Saint Petersburg stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Mike Kireev) The Associated Press

Zenit's Aleksandr Yerokhin, left, celebrates with teammate Artem Dzyuba after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League Group F soccer match between Zenit St.Petersburg and Lazio at the Saint Petersburg stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Mike Kireev) The Associated Press

Zenit's Aleksandr Yerokhin celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League Group F soccer match between Zenit St.Petersburg and Lazio at the Saint Petersburg stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Mike Kireev) The Associated Press

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