Dele-Bashiru shines as Lazio defeats Dynamo Kiev

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scored a goal and assisted another as Lazio defeated Dynamo Kiev in the opener of the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League campaign.

Lazio won 3-0 as Boulaye Dia bagged a brace, alongside Dele-Bashiru’s goal as the Italian side dominated their Ukrainian opponents.

It took Lazio only five minutes to break the deadlock. Dia completed one-two pass with Pedro, bursting into the box and scuffing a low finish into the far bottom corner.

Lazio second with two more goals in 120 seconds to seal the victory in just the first half. A poor Volodymyr Brazhko clearance was intercepted by Matias Vecino, who immediately fed Dele-Bashiru to blast into the roof of the net, in the 33rd minute.

Moments later, Dia sent a free header into the top corner from Dele-Bashiru’s cross to make it three goals to nothing.

Pedro was unlucky not to make it 4-0 for Lazio on the hour mark. He released a Dia’s pass but the finish was deflected and Gustav Isaksen’s follow-up cleared off the line.

Lazio’s goalkeeper, Ivan Provedel, ensured the clean sheet as he made crucial saves to deny Dynamo Kiev.  He dealt with tricky free kicks from Mykola Shaparenko and Brazhko. He also went on to deny Oleksandr Pikhalonok, before pushing Andriy Yarmolenko curler round the far post.

The game, which was played on a neutral turf in Hamburg due to the on-going situation in Ukraine, saw two red cards.

Both teams were reduced to 10 men in Hamburg as Dynamo Kyiv were the firt to be red carded. Maksym Braharu, who seemed to be going for the ball, slipped and trod on the back of Mattia Zaccagni’s ankle. VAR intervened and a red card was awarded following an on-field review.

Another red card was awarded, this time to Noslin. The Lazio forward had been on the pitch for barely three minutes when a flick of the elbow caught Dubinchak on the nose. It was considered to be intentional enough for a straight dismissal.

Provedel kept the clean sheet intact for Lazio with a save as Vladyslav Vanat’s free kick split the wall.