Kozák’s Last-Gasp Header Saves Lazio in Europa League Thriller

Simon Basten
Feb 14, 2023
3 min read

Season 2012-13

Europa League, Round of 32, First Leg

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Borussia Park, Mönchengladbach

Borussia Mönchengladbach Lazio 3-3

Lazio remain unbeaten in Europe after a dramatic 3–3 draw away to Borussia Mönchengladbach, surviving three penalties and a red card before Libor Kozák struck deep into stoppage time.

In Europa League, after beating Mura 05 in the playoff in August, Lazio topped their group (Tottenham, Panathinaikos and Maribor the opponents) and today had to face Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Round of 32.

The match

The first shot of the match came from the hosts, a left-footed effort by Juan Arango that flew over the bar. Lazio responded with a long-range attempt from Antonio Candreva and a clever effort by Cristian Ledesma, who nearly caught out Marc-André ter Stegen, uncertain with his clearance.

In the 16th minute, Borussia struck with a sudden burst. Arango fed Patrick Herrmann, who was brought down in the box by André Dias: the referee awarded a penalty, and captain Martin Stranzl made no mistake from the spot, smashing it home.

The setback spurred Lazio on, and they began to impose their game. Candreva tried his luck again from a free kick, and after a header just wide by Dutch striker Luuk de Jong, Hernanes and especially Sergio Floccari went close, with the home goalkeeper producing a fine save to tip the striker’s header out for a corner. Borussia, however, remained dangerous. A free kick from Arango crashed against the post with Federico Marchetti rooted to the spot, and Patrick Herrmann then fired the rebound straight at the Lazio keeper. Lazio replied with a Hernanes shot deflected by Norwegian (former Arsenal player) Håvard Nordtveit just wide, and a close-range effort from Ștefan Radu.

At the break, Vladimir Petković changed approach and added physical presence up front: Libor Kozák came on, with Ledesma sacrificed. From an Arango free kick, Spanish defender Álvaro Domínguez went close with a header to doubling Borussia’s lead, but in the 58th minute Lazio found the equaliser. Candreva delivered a perfectly weighted cross from the right, and Floccari, arriving centrally, finished with an outside-of-the-foot volley to make it 1–1.

The momentum swung entirely in Lazio’s favour, and four minutes later they completed the comeback. This time the move developed down the left; from Senad Lulić’s cross, Kozák arrived to volley past ter Stegen once again.

Candreva went close to a third, and Petković’s side looked in control. But in the 70th minute Borussia were awarded another penalty, again for a hold by Dias on Stranzl: the Brazilian defender was sent off, but this time Marchetti saved the captain’s spot kick. Down to ten men, Lazio suffered. Stranzl hit the post from a scramble following a throw-in, and Herrmann once again failed to convert the rebound. Petković took action, bringing on Lorik Cana for Candreva; Lucien Favre responded with a triple substitution in the space of three minutes, as Thorben Marx, Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka, and Mike Hanke replaced Nordtveit, Tolga Ciğerci, and Tony Jantschke.

After another chance for Floccari, Borussia equalised six minutes from time. Cana held Luuk De Jong in the area and the referee awarded the Germans their third penalty of the night, which Marchetti could not save, as Thorben Marx converted. It wasn’t over yet: four minutes later, a long-range free kick from Arango caught the Lazio goalkeeper out and restored Borussia’s lead. It seemed all over, but in stoppage time came Kozák’s decisive moment, heading home Hernanes’ looping cross.

The match ended 3–3, and in a week’s time at the Stadio Olimpico, Lazio would have the chance to finish the job.

Who played for Borussia Mönchengladbach

Ter Stegen, Stranzl, Brouwers, Dominguez, Wendt, Jantschke (75' Hanke), Nordtveit (73' Marx), Herrmann, Cigerci (75' Xhaka), Arango, De Jong.

Substitutes: Heimeroth, Daems, Younes, Rupp

Manager: Favre

Who played for Lazio

Marchetti, Konko, Biava, Dias, Radu, Candreva (72' Cana), A. Gonzalez, Ledesma (46' Kozak), Hernanes, Lulic (87' Ciani), Floccari