Sparta surprise Mancini

By Tom Kington in Rome

S.S. Lazio coach Roberto Mancini admitted being held 2-2 at home by AC Sparta Praha proved just how good every side in the UEFA Champions League is.

Dramatic comeback
The Rome outfit had to stage a dramatic comeback to earn a point after going two goals down in the first half - Simone Inzaghi scoring twice after the interval to keep Lazio top of Group G with their next opponents Chelsea FC losing 2-0 at home to Besiktas JK.

Open group
"Our draw shows how competitive the Champions League can be," said Mancini. "But I am surprised at Chelsea's defeat, a result which leaves the whole group open."

Lapse in concentration
Mancini was, however, left wondering how his side let their opponents go two goals up in an action-packed first half in Rome. "It was a very strange game in which we played well for the first half hour, then conceded a goal with our first lapse of concentration," he added.

Chances spurned
Right-back Massimo Oddo agreed with his coach that Lazio should never have gone behind. "We played great football for the first half-hour but failed to take our chances, then we gave away two goals," he said.

Lazio reeling
Former Lazio star Karel Poborský was hardly noticeable as the hosts forced the pace in the first half, but he changed the game in the 27th minute by crossing for Libor Sionko to volley past Angelo Peruzzi. Poborský then scored himself, a close range shot in the 35th minute, which left Lazio reeling.

Poborský praise
"We know Poborský well, he’s a great player and he really wanted to put on a good performance against his old team-mates and before his old fans," said former Lazio colleague Stefano Fiore. "I compliment him on his game," he added.

Kotrba pride
Sparta coach Jirí Kotrba revealed he was proud of the way his side performed in the Stadio Olimpico. "Although we should have shown more courage in the second half, Sparta showed tonight that they are not just a good side at home but also in international competition," said Kotrba, whose team meet Besiktas on 22 October.
 
Instant effect
Mancini claimed he had only encouraged, not lambasted his side at half-time, but whatever the team talk the effect was instant, with Inzaghi latching on to a Corradi header in the 46th minute to score from a tight angle. Just after the hour he was seen to go down under a penalty area shove from Petr Johana and kept his nerve to score the resulting spot-kick.

Double strike
"I scored two important goals to save the result tonight," Inzaghi said. "We conceded two goals against the run of play and could have won."