April 7, 2002: Lazio-Lecce 1-0
- Dag Jenkins
- 8 hours ago
- 10 min read
Still hope for Europe
A Fiore goal keeps Lazio's sights on European football
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous season had seen title winning Sven-Goran Eriksson leaving the club and the return of Dino Zoff. Lazio had fought for the title but eventually just lost out to city rivals Roma. A 3rd place finish did however give them a Champions League participation.
Lazio's main investments this year were defender Jaap Stam (Manchester United) and midfielder Gaizka Mendieta (Valencia). Mendieta in particular was considered a major swoop after his performances in the Champions League for Valencia. In had also come midfielders Giuliano Giannichedda and Stefano Fiore (both from Udinese), Fabio Liverani (Perugia), Brazilian César (São Caetano), Ivan de la Peña (back from loan periods after a disappointing time at Lazio two years earlier) and Serb forward Darko Kovacevic (Juventus).
Lazio had however lost scudetto legends Pavel Nedved (Juventus), the 'Matador' Marcelo Salas (Juventus) and Juan Sebastian Veron (Manchester United) plus Fabrizio Ravanelli (Derby County) and Roberto Baronio (Fiorentina).
The season had started with three lacklustre draws which led the club to substitute manager Dino Zoff with Alberto Zaccheroni. The Biancocelesti had not really improved initially with 1 win, 2 draws and 3 defeats (including derby 0-2) in the first 6 games. Then came five consecutive wins (including Juventus 1-0) but it did not last and since then the Biancocelesti had won 4, drawn 6 and lost 5 (including derby 1-5…). Lazio were currently 7th on 41 points, 5 behind Chievo in the last European UEFA slot. A week earlier Lazio had earned a good away point away to Juventus.
In the Champions League Lazio had gone through the qualifying round by beating FC København 5-3 on aggregate in August. The Biancocelesti had then crashed out in the first group phase with two wins and four defeats: Galatasaray (0-1, 1-0), PSV Eindhoven (0-1, 2-1) and Nantes (1-3, 0-1).
In Coppa Italia, Lazio had played in the last 16 against Siena winning 3-1 on aggregate but then been eliminated by Milan 3-5 on aggregate in the quarters.
Lecce had finished 13th the previous season under Alberto Cavasin. The highlights were beating Inter 1-0 and drawing 2-2 with Juventus, both away. Lecce had lost 2-3 to Lazio away but won 2-1 at home albeit in the last game of the season when Lazio had given up on the title. Top scorers were Cristiano Lucarelli and Davor Vugrinec with 14 goals.
This season the manager was initially Cavasin but he had been replaced after 20 games by Delio Rossi. The Giallorossi had not made many changes to the squad. The main additions were defender Cristian Silvestri (Cosenza), midfielders Cristian Ledesma (Boca Juniors) and Matteo Superbi (Crotone). Leaving was forward Aldo Osorio (Crotone - on loan).
Lecce were currently 16th on 27 points, 6 below the last survival slot (Piacenza on 33). The Salentini had won 6, drawn 9 and lost 14 (including Lazio 1-2 at home). In the previous game however, they had beaten Venezia 2-1 at home.
In Coppa Italia the Giallorossi had been dumped out immediately by Messina 2-5 on aggregate.
Lazio had to win today to keep any European football hopes alive but Lecce were desperate for points so it would not be easy.
The match: Sunday, April 7, 2002, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A 35,000 crowd gathered for this Sunday 8.30 p.m kick-off.
Lazio were without keeper Angelo Peruzzi but had midfielder Diego Pablo "El Cholo" Simeone back on the bench after six months. Lecce were missing defender Bruno Cirillo and midfielder Cristian Ledesma.
The game started at a slow pace and this set the tone for the whole first half. Lazio attacked but were rarely really dangerous. Stefano Fiore had a weak low shot saved, Claudio Lopez and Fernando Couto headers go wide and Dejan Stankovic had the most threatening effort but Antonio Chimenti saved into corner. Halftime came with the match goalless after an uneventful 45 minutes.
In the second half Lazio looked more interested. They immediately orchestrated a good move with Fabio Liverani and Fiore who set up Stankovic running in towards goal from the left but the Serb's shot was deflected over the bar by a last ditch Gheorge Popescu tackle.
In the 57th minute a lovely long ball from Liverani found Lopez in the area but Chimenti snatched the ball away from the Argentine's feet.
In the 58th minute came the first replacement for Lecce, Cristian Silvestri coming on for Phillipe Billy and a minute later an ovation welcomed Simeone when he took Karel Poborsky's place.
In the 62nd minute the Biancocelesti went extremely close. Jaap Stam crossed from the right, Fiore headed but it came back off Popescu, he tried again with a shot but it was blocked by Alessandro Conticchio and then his third attempt shaved the post.
In the 65th minute Lazio scored. Stankovic went down the right and from the by-line put in a high cross to the far post where Fiore volleyed with his left foot, the ball bounced and then Popescu headed clear but already over the line according to the linesman and referee. Lazio 1 Lecce 0.
The Salentini protested furiously but looking at the replays it looked like the right decision (this was before goal line technology).
In the 70th minute the Giallorossi threw on another forward, Axel Konan for midfielder Guillermo Giacomazzi.
In the 73rd minute the visitors had a freekick from the edge of the box and Uruguay's Ernesto Chevanton fired a shot not too far off the left-hand post.
In the 79th minute there was applause for both Lucas Castromán who went off and for Guerino Gottardi who came on. Three minutes later Stankovic went off for Brazilian César.
In the 81st minute a young Montenegrin, Mirko Vučinić replaced Conticchio. Four minutes later he almost scored but his pointed effort from just inside the box went just wide to Luca Marchegiani's right.
In injury time Davor Vugrinec got a second yellow card and was off. There was no time left anyway and Lazio conquered their fourth consecutive positive result. Final score Lazio 1 Lecce 0.
A just about deserved win for Lazio after a lacklustre first half. Lecce had come out of their shell eventually but it was too little too late.
Lazio were still 7th, now on 44 points but only three behind Chievo who had drawn with Milan. Europe was still possible.
Lecce were still 16th on 27 points but now seven points below the last survival slot (Udinese and Brescia on 34).
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Stam, Nesta, F. Couto, Favalli, Poborsky (59' Simeone), Castroman (79' Gottardi), Liverani, Stankovic (82' César), Fiore, C. Lopez
Substitutes: Favazza, Pancaro, Mihajlovic, Evacuo
Manager: Zaccheroni
Who played for Lecce
Chimenti, Juarez, Popescu, Stovini, Billy (58' Silvestri), Conticchio (81' Vucinic), Piangerelli, Giacomazzi (70' Konan), Tonetto, Vugrinec, Chevantón
Substitutes: Colonnello, Savino, Superbi
Manager: D. Rossi
Referee: Farina
Goal: 68' Fiore
Red Card: 91' Vugrinec
What happened next
Lazio then won 3 out of the last 4 games and finished 6th. They therefore salvaged a disappointing season by qualifying for the UEFA Cup.
They ended with a controversial victory over Inter on the now famous May 5th. This last game saw Inter needing a win to be sure of the scudetto. There was also the chance of Roma stealing the championship had Inter and Juve failed to win and Roma done so. There was therefore a lot of talk of Lazio throwing the game to avoid the “unmentionables” glory. Many Lazio fans were initially blatantly supporting Inter but the risk was soon out of the question with Juve taking an early double lead away at Udinese. Inter still had their fate in their own hands but inexplicably collapsed at the Olimpico against opposition who didn't exactly play as if their life depended on it. Inter may have assumed it was a done deal but Karel Poborsky's lack of understanding of the city rivalry dynamics, and hence fierce determination, together with Inter's lacklustre performance, produced one of the few championship-deciding last matches of the season shock results in recent history. Another one obviously being Juventus getting washed away in Perugia two years earlier, handing the scudetto to Lazio in an even more dramatic fashion.
Lazio's top scorer was Hernan Crespo with 20 goals (13 in A).
Fortunately, Roberto Mancini was already on his way back to Lazio.
Lecce ended up relegated. In the next 4 games they drew 1 and lost 3, finishing 16th, on 28 points.
With Juventus champions for the 26th time, the verdicts down below were Lecce to travel with Venezia, Fiorentina and Verona down to Serie B.
Let's talk about Felice Evacuo
Felice Evacuo was born in Pompeii (Naples) on August 23, 1982.
His first club in his youth was Turris, from Torre del Greco (NA). In 1999-00 he made his debut in C2 in his only appearance of the season. The following year he played 11 league games and scored his first goal.
In 2001 he joined Lazio. He was only 19 and Lazio had Claudio Lopez, Hernan Crespo, Simone Inzaghi and initially also Darko Kovačević up front. Unsurprisingly Evacuo only played 2 league games. He made his debut in January against Torino, replacing Stefano Fiore in the 77th minute. The manager was first Dino Zoff and then, from the fourth game, Alberto Zaccheroni. Lazio finished 6th (UC).
In 2002 he joined Fiorentina on loan. The Florentines were now called Florentia Viola and had been demoted to C2 for financial problems. The Viola won promotion, first under Pietro Vierchowod (1-9) and then Alberto Cavasin. Evacuo played 20 league games with 2 goals (Castel di Sangro x2).
In 2003-04 he played for Viterbese in C1 on loan. He played 23 league games with 5 goals. The Tusci finished 3rd but then were declared bankrupt and relegated to C2.
In 2004 he signed for Avellino in C1. He played 36 league games with 8 goals plus 3 games in the C Coppa Italia with 2 goals. The Irpini won promotion to Serie B. The manager was first Antonello Cuccureddu and then Francesco Oddo
In August, after 1 league game in B for Avellino, he left for Torres (Sassari-Sardinia) in C1. He played 35 league games and was top scorer with 16 goals. The Rossoblu finished 3rd but then for financial irregularities had to restart from C2.
In 2006 he returned to Avellino back in C1. He played 34 league games with 16 goals plus 2 games in the domestic cups with 1 goal. The managers were former Lazio, Giuseppe Galderisi and then Giuseppe Vavassori.
In 2007-08 he spent a year at Frosinone in Serie B. He played 40 league games with 13 goals plus 1 game in Coppa Italia. The manager was Alberto Cavasin and the Ciociari finished 10th.
In 2008 he signed for Benevento in Lega Pro Prima Divisione (3rd tier) and stayed three seasons. The Giallorossi finished 2nd (lost play-off final), 5th and 2nd again (lost play-off final). Evacuo played a total of 81 games with 46 goals. In his first season he broke his leg in a Coppa Italia game against Lazio in August.
In 2011 he joined Spezia in Lega Pro. The Eagles won the league and promotion to Serie B under Michele Serena. Evacuo played 36 games and was top scorer with 19 goals (17 in league). The Spezzini won the Lega Pro Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa.
In August 2012, after playing 1 cup game for Spezia with 2 goals, he joined Nocerina in Lega Pro. The Rossoneri from Nocera Inferiore (Salerno) finished 4th under Gaetano Auteri and Evacuo played 31 games with 17 goals.
In 2013-14 he was back at Benevento in Lega Pro. The Stregoni (Sorcerers) finished 7th and he played 35 games with 19 goals. One of his teammates was former Lazio, Fabrizio Melara (youth sector and 2004-05).
In 2014 he joined Novara in Lega Pro. The Azzurri won the league and promotion under Domenico Toscano. They also won the Lega Pro Supercoppa. The following year he stayed on and Novara finished 8th in Serie B, under future Lazio manager, Marco Baroni. Evacuo played a total of 79 games with 31 goals.
In 2016 Evacuo joined Parma in Lega Pro but only stayed until January. He played 21 games with 6 goals. The Gialloblu eventually won promotion under Roberto D'Aversa.
In January 2017 he joined Alessandria in Lega Pro. The Grigi finished 2nd but lost the play-off final. Evacuo played 17 games with 2 goals, under Giuseppe Pillon. His teammates included former Lazio, Felice Piccolo (2005-06).
In 2017 he signed for Trapani in Serie C and stayed three seasons. The Granata finished 3rd, 2nd (promoted) and 18th (relegated). His managers included Lazio hero Alessandro Calori and now top coach Vincenzo Italiano (promotion season). Evacuo played a total of 98 games with 25 goals.
In 2020-21 he played for Catanzaro in Serie C for a season. He played 37 games and scored 5 goals. The Eagles finished 2nd under Antonio Calabro.
Evacuo last club was Juve Stabia (Castellammare di Stabia-Naples) in Serie C. The Wasps finished 11th, mainly under Walter Novellino who started and finished. Evacuo played 26 league games with 3 goals.
Evacuo then retired at almost 40.
He was a forward. He was a strong, physical player and good in the air. He was not overly skilful but his size and movement opened up spaces for his teammates. He was however a prolific scorer himself, 241 goals in his career. He was a good penalty taker (37 scored out of 46). He had a good career especially in the 3rd tier. He won four promotions. He was also top Coppa Italia scorer twice (2011 with Samuel Eto'o and 2014) and of Lega Pro (2013). He is still the record holder for Serie C goals, 174.
Prestige wise Lazio was his peak. He was too young and only stayed a year but played twice in Serie A and alongside the likes of Hernan Crespo, Claudio Lopez, Dejan Stankovic, Sinisa Mihajlovic, Alessandro Nesta, Diego Simeone, Jaap Stam, Gaizka Mendieta, just to name a few.
Lazio Career
Season | Serie A Appearances |
2001-02 | 2 |
Sources
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