ROME: Como ruined Lazio’s 125th anniversary celebrations on Friday after coming away from AS Rome with a 1-1 draw against their hosts, who had to play for over half an hour with 10 men.

Patrick Cutrone earned his hometown team Como a point at the Stadio Olimpico when he bundled home Gabriel Strefezza’s cross in the 72nd minute.

The draw moves Como, who are owned by tobacco giant Djarum, up to 15th and two points above the relegation zone as the lakeside club bid for safety in their first top flight season in over two decades.

Cutrone netted his sixth goal of the campaign 14 minutes after Lazio forward Loum Tchaouna’s harsh second yellow card — his two bookings coming in a matter of seconds — for a challenge on Alberto Moreno.

“I’ve improved a lot thanks to the experiences that I’ve had, I try to score every match I play but I’m not going to say whether I’ll score 10, 15 or 20 goals,” said Cutrone to DAZN.

“I’m just here to help the team, score as much as possible and help us gain points.”

Coach Cesc Fabregas will likely have to do without key attacker Nico Paz at AC Milan on Tuesday after the Argentina international hobbled off the field following a crunching studs-up challenge from Samuel Gigot.

Fourth-placed Lazio had led from the 34th minute through Boulaye Dia as team and supporters celebrated the club’s foundation as a multi-sport club on January 9, 1900.

Lazio played in a special kit and before the match a potted history of the club was told on the stadium screens, while fans celebrated the club’s anniversary with a display which read CXXV, the Roman numerals for 1900.

Supporters goad their rivals at Roma — founded in 1927 — with barbs about being the younger club in the Italian capital, with one of their fans’ most famous banners reading: “My granddad supported Lazio... and so did yours.”

However Roma, who won last weekend’s local derby, have a significantly larger following and on Friday the Stadio Olimpico was far from full, with one whole stand nearly empty despite the anniversary celebrations.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2025