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ROME (AP) — A 1-1 draw in the Rome derby was an appropriate result amid unusual solidarity between normally warring supporters of Lazio and Roma on Sunday following the shooting death of a high-profile fan.Both ends of the Stadio Olimpico paid tribute to Fabrizio “Diabolik” Piscitelli , the former Lazio “ultras” chief who was shot dead at point-blank range in an unsolved murder last month.Roma went ahead with a first-half penalty from Aleksandar Kolarov, and Luis Alberto equalized for Lazio after the break.Article continues below ...Despite stifling humidity, the match was highly entertaining and featured six shots off the woodwork — four by Lazio (Lucas Leiva, Ciro Immobile, Joaquín Correa and Marco Parolo) and two by Roma (both by Nicolò Zaniolo).Lazio also had a potential winner from Manuel Lazzari disallowed in the closing minutes for offside.“It was certainly a spectacular football match. The teams respected each other but also went after it,” said new Roma coach Paulo Fonseca. “We coaches always lose a few years of life during games like this, but this was an anthem for football to those who love the sport.”Roma’s penalty was due to new and stricter handball rules.Edin Dzeko appeared to see Sergej Milinkovic-Savic raise his arm and struck the extended limb to earn the spot kick converted by Kolarov, the former Lazio fullback.Luis Alberto’s goal came with a blistering shot through a crowded area.The result will likely leave both sides frustrated.Lazio, last season’s Italian Cup champion, will rue missed chances after hitting the goal frame so many times , while Roma has now drawn twice in its opening two matches under Fonseca.Lazio produced 21 shots to Roma’s eight, although Roma controlled more of the possession.“There are inevitably regrets, because we had so many chances and you have to win games like that,” Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi said. “We could have used a bit more luck. But we played great football.”Roma has undergone a complete overhaul following a turbulent offseason that included the resignation of former captain Francesco Totti from his management position and the departure of Daniele De Rossi to Boca Juniors.Police were on high alert for fan tensions following Piscitelli’s murder and the subsequent controversy over a public funeral. But there were no immediate reports of clashes or serious violence.Many Lazio fans wore shirts that said “Diablo” to honor Piscitelli’s nickname, “Diabolik.”Lazio supporters held aloft a huge banner featuring an image of Piscitelli before kickoff and Roma fans responded with smaller banners that read, “Rest in peace, Fabrizio” and “Fly high! Ciao Diablo.”The “curva nord” — northern end — where Lazio’s hard-core fans sit was silent during the first half in protest at the club’s decision not to express condolences over the death of Piscitelli, who had a long criminal record.Lazio’s players were told not to celebrate below the “curva nord” to respect the fans’ protest and Luis Alberto kept his distance despite scoring at that end. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Megan Rapinoe had two assists in her first national team game since the World Cup and the United States beat South Korea 2-0 on Thursday night for its 17th straight victory.Coach Jill Ellis earned her 106th victory as coach of the United States, passing Tony DiCicco for most wins with the team.“It’s not what I do this for , but I’ll take it,” said Ellis, who has led the U.S. team to back-to-back World Cup titles. “Like I’ve said many times, there’s a lot of peoples’ shoulders I stand on at this point. But it’s great. Celebrate this team.”Allie Long and Mallory Pugh each scored in the team’s fifth straight shutout.Rapinoe, who has been out with an Achilles injury since the United States won the World Cup in France, served up a free kick that Long slotted home for the goal in first-half stoppage time. It was Long’s eighth career goal.“She hit it perfectly and I was just right there to one-time it in,” Long said about her teammate with the NWSL’s Reign.Pugh added a goal on a header in the 76th minute. It was her 18th career goal, with Rapinoe getting the assist before she was subbed out a minute later.Seven U.S. players were not available for the game because of injury, including Sam Mewis, Kelley O’Hara , Morgan Brian, Ali Krieger, Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath and Lindsey Horan.Before the game the team honored Krieger for 100 appearances with the team. She reached the milestone on May 16 against New Zealand but the ceremony was delayed by the World Cup.The moment was especially touching because Krieger’s father, Ken Krieger, was able to attend. Ken Krieger was recently in a serious car accident and spent over a week in intensive care. Also celebrating in a pregame ceremony was U.S. goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, Ali Krieger’s fiance. Harris also started the game in goal.South Korea played at the World Cup this summer but lost each of its three group stage games.The game was the second-to-last of the U.S. team’s post-World Cup victory tour. The United States will host South Korea again on Sunday at Soldier Field in Chicago.The match in Chicago will be coach Ellis’ last with the team. The two-time world coach of the year is stepping down.“For her to go out on top, to be the most winningest coach in U.S. Soccer history, two back-to-back World Cups, it’s absolutely incredible ,” Long said. “Just as a female she’s been a role model for so many of us, and kind of like a second mom, you’re with this team so much.”The DiCicco Family issued a statement congratulating Ellis following the game. DiCicco, who coached the team from 1994-99, died in 2017.“While we all wish Tony was here to congratulate Jill himself, we know what he would say. Records like this are not owned, they are simply held for a while,” the statement said.The United States is 18-1-2 this season. The lone loss came to France in the first game of the year.The announced attendance at Bank of America Stadium was 30,071.
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