April 29, 2015: Lazio-Parma 4-0

Lazio close it in first 15 minutes

The Biancocelesti go 3-0 up in first quarter of an hour and the game becomes a formality

Also on this day:

April 29, 1998, Lazio Milan 3-1 Coppa Italia Final Return Leg. An incredible comeback, an incredible victory. Lazio are winners … finally!!
April 29, 2001, Roma Lazio 2-2. Castroman equalises with twenty seconds to go to salvage pride and at least put the rivals title hopes in some doubt.

The season so far

The previous season Lazio had finished a poor 9th. They had replaced manager Vladimir Petkovic with Edy Reja after 16 matches, so the honeymoon with the Swiss was over but not his legacy (2013 Coppa Italia triumph).

This season Lazio had a new manager in Stefano Pioli. There had also been several changes to the squad, some major, some minor. The biggest buy for Lazio was Dutch central defender Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord) who had impressed at the recent 2014 World Cup. Other good signings were defender Dušan Basta (Udinese) and midfielder Marco Parolo (Parma). Another new face was Serbian striker Filip Djordjevic (Nantes- end of contract) while local lad Danilo Cataldi was back from a loan period (Crotone).

Sadly, some players left, in particular Giuseppe Biava (end of contract) and André Dias (retired). Other minor movements were mainly in attack; Emiliano Alfaro (Liverpool Montevideo - loan), Brayan Perea (Perugia- loan/ he would return in January) and Hélder Postiga (Valencia - end of loan). In the winter session popular Uruguayan midfielder Álvaro "El Tata" Gonzalez had left for Torino.

The beginning of the season had been a mixed bag. Lazio had lost three out of the first four matches but then won the next four (Palermo, Sassuolo, Fiorentina, Torino). Since then, the Biancocelesti had won 13 (including Milan 3-1 at home and 8 consecutives between 23rd and 30th), drawn 4 (including derby 2-2 and Inter 2-2 away) and lost 5. Their most recent result had been a 1-1 draw against "bête noire" Chievo (at least at home).

Lazio were currently in 2nd position, on 59 points but only one ahead of Roma and three of Napoli. League leaders Juventus were miles ahead on 73 points. There were three Champions League places available so Lazio were in the thick of the battle.

Dutch International de Vrij had confirmed to be a class act, Parolo a reliable, solid club player and Djordjevic had scored seven goals so far, but had got seriously injured in January and was out for at least three months.

In Coppa Italia Lazio had qualified for the final to be played against Juventus on May 20. The Biancocelesti got through the first round beating Virtus Bassano 7-0. They then played Varese at home in December and won 3-0. Next up came Torino away in January, in the last 16 and Lazio won 3-1. In the quarter finals Lazio defeated Milan 1-0 away and, in the semi-final, got the better of Napoli 2-1 on aggregate.

Parma had finished 6th the previous season under Roberto Donadoni. The Gialloblu had drawn 1-1 at home against Lazio and lost 2-3 in Rome. Their most prestigious result was winning 4-2 away to Milan. Top scorer was Antonio Cassano with 13 league goals.

This season Donadoni had been confirmed. The main new arrivals were: defenders Andrea Costa (Sampdoria), Paolo De Ceglie (Juventus - on loan via Genoa but left for Juve in January), Andrea Rispoli (Brescia via Ternana but loaned to Palermo in January), Fabiano Santacroce (Padova - back from loan), midfielders Cristóbal Jorquera (Eskişehirspor - back from loan), Francesco Lodi (Catania - on loan) plus forwards Ishak Belfodil (Inter via Livorno), Massimo Coda (Bologna) and Abdelkader Ghezzal (Bari via Latina). In the winter session, defender Pedro Mendes (Sassuolo - back from loan), midfielder Antonio Nocerino (Milan - on loan via Torino) and forward Silvestre Varela (Porto - on loan via WBA) were added.

The main players leaving were: keeper Nicola Pavarini (retiring), defenders Yohan Benalouane (Atalanta), Cristian Molinaro (Torino), midfielders Walter Gargano (Napoli - end of loan), Marco Marchionni (Sampdoria), Gianni Munari (Watford - on loan), Joel Obi (Inter - end of loan), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Ezequiel Schelotto (Inter - end of loan then Chievo) plus forwards Amauri (Torino) and Nicola Sansone (Sassuolo). In the January winter session Antonio Cassano left for Sampdoria and defender Gabriel Paletta for Milan.

A lot of comings and goings and Parma were struggling on and off the field. The club was going through financial difficulties and had been docked 7 points. They were rock bottom in Serie A on 16 points and practically already relegated. The Ducali had only won 6 (including Inter 2-0 and Juventus 1-0, both at home), drawn 5 (including Roma 0-0 away) and lost 21 (including Lazio 1-2, Juventus 0-7). Parma were however undefeated in the last 4 games, including a win a week earlier, so were still playing with some pride.

Pride or no pride Lazio were expected to win today if they wanted to maintain Champions League aspirations. If Parma lost today they were arithmetically down.

The match: Wednesday, April 29, 2015, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

A Wednesday evening game brought about 45,000 spectators to the Olimpico.

Lazio were still without defender Stefan de Vrij and midfielder Lucas Biglia but had Marco Parolo, Danilo Cataldi and Filip Djordjevic back from injury.

Parma were missing defender Andrea Costa and midfielder Daniele Galloppa.

The game was basically over after fifteen minutes as Lazio went three nil up.

It was Parma however who started better and had two chances in the first ten minutes. First Federico Marchetti had to dive low at Antonio Nocerino's feet after a clever backheel by Andi Lila and then the keeper had to fist away a powerful shot by Raffaele Palladino from the edge of the box.

The news came through that Roma had scored at Sassuolo and so, as things stood, would go above Lazio. Then Lazio scored three goals in five minutes. In the 10th minute Parolo struck with a great long range shot into the top hand corner.

In the 13th minute Felipe Anderson beat Massimo Gobbi on the right and crossed low to Stefan Radu whose shot was saved by Antonio Mirante with his foot but the Gialloblu keeper could do nothing on Miroslav Klose's subsequent tap-in.

In the 15th minute Senad Lulic headed on centrally to Antonio Candreva who surged forward between Pedro Mendes and Alessandro Lucarelli and beat Mirante coming off his line. Lazio 3 Parma 0, after only a quarter of an hour.

To Parma's credit they did not give up and the game remained competitive even if the home win was no longer in doubt.

Lazio slowed down and concentrated more on possession and keeping Parma away from any potential danger zones. The Biancocelesti had sudden attacking forays but without the previous electric speed. On one Felipe Anderson was clear but he pushed the ball just that bit too far and the chance was lost. Half time Lazio 3 Parma 0.

In the second half the game was more balanced and more like a friendly. Parma had a shot by Mendes go just over the bar before Klose got booked for a sliding tackle which would now cost him a one-match suspension (Atalanta away).

Just after the hour mark the first substitutions came, in the 61st minute defender Fabiano Santacroce replaced Mattia Cassani for Parma and in the 64th Keita Balde took Felipe Anderson's place for Lazio.

Keita was immediately dangerous when after a good run down the right his shot was tipped over the bar by Mirante.

More changes followed, for Lazio, Edson Braafheid came on for Radu (72') and Stefano Mauri for Klose (78') while for Parma, McDonald Mariga replaced Francesco Lodi (75').

Parma still battled and were unlucky when Palladino hit the crossbar with a long-range effort.

Then in the 81st minute Lazio got their fourth. Candreva went down the right and squared low to Keita who lobbed the keeper with a clever flick. Lazio 4 Parma 0 and final score.

A convincing win for Lazio. After a couple of negative results, they were back on track for a direct Champions League qualification. The table read Juventus 76 (Champions), Lazio 62, Roma 61, Napoli 56. Top three straight into CL, the fourth to a preliminary.

Parma were officially relegated. With today's defeat and Atalanta's draw in Cesena the Ducali had no more hope. Now their main objective was to find new owners to save the club itself.

Who played for Lazio

Marchetti, Basta, Ciani, Mauricio, Radu (72' Braafheid), Cataldi, Parolo, Candreva, F. Anderson (64' Keita), Lulic, Klose (78' S. Mauri)

Substitutes: Berisha, Strakosha, Novaretti, Konko, Cavanda, Ledesma, Oikonomidis, Djordjevic, Perea

Manager: Pioli

Who played for Parma

Mirante, Cassani (61' Santacroce), Mendes, Lucarelli, Gobbi, Lila, Lodi (75' Mariga), Nocerino, Varela, Belfodil, Palladino

Substitutes: Iacobucci, Bajza, Jorquera, J. Mauri, Coda, Ghezzal

Manager: Donadoni

Referee: Calvarese

Goals: 10' Parolo, 13' Klose, 15' Candreva, 81' Keita

What happened next

In the next 4 games Lazio only won 1 (Sampdoria away), drew 1 (Atalanta away) and lost 2 (Inter at home and crucial derby for 2nd place). The Champions League qualification therefore all went down to the last match, away in Naples.

It was a dramatic match to say the least. Lazio needed a draw to clinch third place while Napoli had to win. The first half ended with the Biancocelesti 2-0 up and seemingly in control with goals by Marco Parolo and Antonio Candreva.

The second half was a rollercoaster. In the 55th minute Napoli pulled one back with Gonzalo Higuain. In the 62nd minute Lazio were reduced to ten men when Parolo was shown a red card. In the 64th minute Higuain scored again to make it 2-2.

The Napoli faithful smelt blood and the stadium was on fire, things were not looking good for Lazio. A glimmer of hope came in the 70th minute when Napoli too were forced to play in a man less as Faouzi Goulam was given his marching orders.

The hope was short lived as in the 76th minute the “Partenopei” were awarded a penalty probably worth about 9 billion Euros. The “Pepita” Higuain stepped up and, to the horror of the locals and relief of the Laziali, blasted the ball over the bar towards Vesuvius.

Lazio regained vigour after being on the brink of disaster. Four minutes after the penalty drama an unlikely hero appeared in the form of Eddy Onazi. In the 85th minute he took advantage of a Napoli mistake and from midfield went straight towards goal and then beat the keeper as he came out. Napoli 2 Lazio 3, an incredible turnaround in the space of a few minutes.

Napoli were distraught and Miro Klose made it 4-2 in the 92nd minute. An incredible night gave Lazio third place and a Champions League preliminary qualification.

The hero of the hour was Nigerian Onazi and the Laziale saying "Onazi è l'unico nazi che ci piace" was never as popular. The saying is obviously lost in translation but is a play on words stating that the Nigerian is the only nazi we like.

Lazio finished the season 3rd, with 69 points, after 21 wins, 6 draws and 11 defeats. Top scorer was Klose with 16 (13 in Serie A).

In the final of the Coppa Italia Lazio were beaten 2-1 by Juventus in extra time (after Djordjevic had hit a freakish double post).

Alas Lazio would never get into the Champions League group stage as they were defeated 3-1 on aggregate by Bayer Leverkusen in the preliminary round in August.

Parma then drew 2 and lost 3 and ended up bottom. Top scorer was Cassano with 5 league goals (and he had left in January…). Parma were then declared bankrupt and the following season started up again Serie D. They then won three consecutive promotions and were back in Serie A by 2018-19.

The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 31st time and 4th consecutive. Serie B was next up for Cagliari, Cesena while Parma went two more stops further down.

Let's talk about Chris Oikonomidis

Christopher James Ikonomidis known as Chris Oikonomidis was born in Sydney, Australia on May 4 1995. He is Australian of Greek origin.

He started playing very young at the age of four with local club Cronulla. At 14 he travelled to London to have a trial with Arsenal who recommended him to the Sutherland Sharks (Sydney).

In 2009 he moved back to Greece and joined the Rhodes youth sector. A year later he arrived in Italy and was with Atalanta academy for two seasons. In 2013 he joined Lazio’s youth setup.

With the Lazio Primavera (U19s) he won two Italian Cups and a Super Cup, scoring goals in two finals.

In 2015 he was added to the first team squad and made his debut in a Europa League game against Saint-Étienne.

In January 2016 he was loaned to Salernitana in Serie B to get more playing time. He made 14 league appearances and scored 1 goal (Ascoli). The Amaranto finished 18th and then stayed up via the playouts. His teammates included Lazio connections; Thomas Strakosha (2013-14, 2016-22), Alessandro Tuia (Lazio youth sector and 2007-09) and Franjo Prce (3 spells between 2015-2018).

In 2016-17 Oikonomidis spent a season on loan in Denmark with Aarhus. "De Hvide" (Whites) finished 11th in the Superligaen and Oikonomidis played 20 games with 2 goals.

In the summer of 2017 he returned to Lazio but left again in January after getting no playing time.

He returned to Australia and joined Western Sydney on loan. He played 10 league games and scored 3 goals.

From 2018 to 2021 he played in Western Australia for Perth Glory. He played a total of 41 games and scored 16 goals. In 2019 "The Glory" won the Premier's Plate (top of regular season) in the A-League.

In 2021 he moved to Melbourne and signed for Melbourne Victory. He stayed three seasons making 79 appearances and scoring 5 goals. In 2021 the Blues won the FFA Cup (the Australia cup).

He currently plays for Macarthur (Campbelltown-Sydney) in the A-League.

Oikonomidis has won 16 caps for Australia with 2 goals (Oman, Syria) but not since 2021. He has taken part in one Asian Cup (2019). He also played for the Socceroos U19s (1 game), U20s (9 games with 5 goals) and U23s (5 games).

Oikonomidis is an attacking midfielder. He is a skilful player with a good footballing brain but did not make it at European level but is having a decent career in Australia.