Another trophy for Lazio
Lazio beat reigning champions Juventus with goals by Nedved and Conceição despite controversial penalty
Also on this day: August 29, 1971, Lazio Roma 1-0 Coppa Italia. Despite being in Serie B Lazio beat Roma with a goal by "Long John" Chinaglia. Player of the day: Costantino Fava
The season so far
This was the Supercoppa Italiana final between Scudetto winners Juventus and Coppa Italia winners Lazio.
Lazio had won silverware after 24 years, triumphing against Milan 3-2 on aggregate. The Biancocelesti had lost the first leg in Milan 0-1 and had been 0-1 down in Rome too, but then scored three goals in ten minutes to win 3-1 and give some generations the new sweet taste of success.
This season there had been some important changes to the squad. Important players arrived: defenders Fernando Couto (Parma), Sinisa Mihajlovic (Sampdoria), midfielders Iván De La Peña (Barcelona), Dejan Stankovic (Red Star Belgrade), Sergio Conceição (Porto) and striker Marcelo Salas (River Plate). Leaving were: keeper Fernando Orsi (retiring), defenders José Chamot (Atlético Madrid) and Alessandro Grandoni (Sampdoria), midfielders Diego Fuser (Parma) and Vladimir Jugovic (Atlético Madrid) plus strikers Pierluigi Casiraghi (Chelsea) and Beppe Signori (Bologna). So quite an upheaval to the squad for Lazio who the day earlier had also just announced the arrival of Christian Vieri from Atlético Madrid.
Juventus were reigning champions and playing at home so were clear favourites. Under Marcello Lippi the Bianconeri had also reached the final of the Champions League but lost 0-1 to Real Madrid in Amsterdam.
They had not made many changes in the transfer market. Their main buy was defender Igor Tudor from Hajduk Split while leaving were defender Moreno Torricelli (Fiorentina) and forward Marcelo Zalayeta (Empoli-on loan).
The match: Saturday, August 29, 1998, Stadio delle Alpi, Turin
There was not a big crowd for this first trophy awarding game, less than 20,000 (including 2,000 from Rome).
Lazio were without Alessandro Nesta (out with a long-term injury), Giuseppe Pancaro (injured), Beppe Favalli (injured), Paolo Negro (suspended) and new signing Christian Vieri (also injured). Juventus were missing defenders Ciro Ferrara and Paolo Montero.
The game started at a good pace with Sergio Conceição particularly lively on the wing. It was Juventus however who threatened more. First Filippo Inzaghi was signalled offside in a dangerous position and then the "Zebras" had a penalty appeal for an energetic challenge on Alessandro Del Piero by Stefano Lombardi.
There were two more appeals in the early phases. Roberto Mancini went down on contact with Igor Tudor and then Inzaghi was overpowered by Stefano Lombardi in the air but for referee Bettin there no cause to intervene.
In the 23rd minute Edgar Davids went on a good central run, fed Alessandro Del Piero on the left, "Pinturicchio" put in a perfect cross but Luca Marchegiani managed to anticipate Inzaghi.
Lazio finally threatened shortly after, when Pavel Nedved pounced on a long high pass and struck a shot which Angelo Peruzzi saved into corner. It was Nedved again a few minutes later who, teed up by Mancini, had a 20-metre shot denied by a Peruzzi foot.
Lazio were growing in confidence and looking increasingly sharp on the break. Juventus however had players of world class and in the 35th minute Zinedine Zidane wonderfully dummied Fernando Couto and hammered towards goal but Marchegiani got a hand to it and the ball hit the crossbar and went over the bar.
Lazio responded in perfect style. In the 38th minute Ivan De La Peña found Mancini in the area on the left and "Mancio" brilliantly back heeled it to the oncoming Nedved who smashed it into the corner. Juventus 0 Lazio 1.
Juventus' reaction was all in a lame Del Piero shot, despite being in a favourable position. Half time Juventus 0 Lazio 1. A good first half by Lazio who were looking slick and sharp against a more sluggish home side.
For the second half Lippi went for a more offensive approach with Daniel Fonseca (former Roma) on for Didier Deschamps and moving Alessio Tacchinardi into central midfield.
In the 53rd minute Lazio wasted a colossal chance to double their lead. Following a De La Peña lob, Mancini and Marcelo Salas found themselves unmarked at the edge of the box, Peruzzi raced off his line but Mancini neither shot nor squared it for the "Matador" thus losing the ball and the massive opportunity.
The game got increasingly heated and Tacchinardi could easily have been sent off for a filthy foul on De La Peña. In the 55th minute Nedved was forced off injured and replaced by Dejan Stankovic.
In the 58th minute Lazio were left eating their hands again. Salas to Conceição on the right followed by a perfect switch of play to Stankovic on the left in front of goal, the Serb's header looked like a winner but somehow hit Peruzzi's body (he is big and known as "Il Cinghialone"- The Big Wild Boar).
Juventus seemed on the ropes and opted for the more attacking Angelo Di Livio for Alessandro Birindelli. Things however got worse in the 68th minute when Inzaghi got his marching orders. He had just been booked for dissent when he held Giorgio Venturin back by his shirt and got a second yellow.
Lazio were apparently in control but in the 79th minute risked on another moment of Zidane inventiveness as he put Del Piero through on goal, the Italian went around Marchegiani and directed the ball towards goal but Sinisa Mihajlovic managed to get back and miraculously deflect the ball onto the post. The Serb got injured performing his heroics, was forced off, came back on but was then finally forced off in the 84th minute, replaced by midfielder Dario Marcolin.
In the 86th there came a hugely controversial moment. Del Piero went into the box but was tackled by Marcolin when shooting, the Juve striker went down and the ball spun towards Di Livio whose shot was walled by Giovanni Lopez's back. Close but that was not the end of the story as the referee, to the general bafflement, pointed to the penalty spot. Had he played advantage and gone back for the infringement on Del Piero? If so it was a double mistake as firstly it was no way a penalty and secondly once he had given Di Livio the chance to score he could not go back on his decision.
The fact was he awarded a penalty which Del Piero duly slotted in. Juventus 1 Lazio 1 with only a few minutes to go.
Lazio were fuming but there were more surprises in store. When extra-time seemed inevitable, Lazio scored again. In the 93rd minute a rugby style passing move from left to right involving Salas, De La Peña and Mancini opened up a gap for Conceição whose cracking shot beat Peruzzi. Full time Juventus 1 Lazio 2. The Biancocelesti's second silverware in four months, after only winning two in 74 years.
A well-deserved win for the Roman Eagles who had been the better team while Juventus had only had a few moments of individual brilliance. For some reason the "Old Lady" deserted the prize ceremony, not that Lazio were too bothered, but it was unsportsmanlike (or unsportsladylike ...whatever it was, it showed they were sore losers).
It was only the second time the cup had not been won by the Scudetto winning team but it was a sign of the times. The trophy lifted to the Turin skies by Marchegiani was to be followed by several more over the next few years for Lazio.
Who played for Juventus
Peruzzi, Birindelli (60' Di Livio), Tudor, Iuliano, Pessotto, Tacchinardi, Deschamps (46' Fonseca), Davids (77' Dimas), Zidane, F. Inzaghi, Del Piero
Substitutes: Rampulla, Pecchia, Blanchard, A. Conte
Manager: Lippi
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, F. Couto (77' Gottardi), G. Lopez, Mihajlovic (84' Marcolin), Lombardi, Conceição, Venturin, De La Peña, Nedved (55' Stankovic), Salas, Mancini
Manager: Eriksson
Referee: Bettin
Goals: 38' Nedved, 86' Del Piero (pen), 93' Conceição
What happened next
Lazio went very close to winning the Scudetto. They were top of the table until the penultimate game when they drew in Florence, being denied a blatant penalty and were undeservedly overtaken by Milan.
Lazio finished 2nd in Serie but triumphed in Europe winning the last ever Cup Winners Cup. They beat Mallorca 2-1 at Villa Park in Birmingham with goals by Vieri and Nedved.
Top scorer was Marcelo Salas with 24 (15 in league) but Vieri had a good season too, when he finally returned in January, with 12 league goals.
Juventus started the league well and were top by November but then faded. In February Lippi resigned (after announcing he would join Inter the next season) and was replaced by Carlo Ancelotti (an unpopular choice with the fans).
Juventus finished 7th, after 15 wins (including Lazio 3-1 in Rome), 9 draws and 10 defeats (including Lazio 0-1 in Turin). They then qualified for the Intertoto Cup after a playoff with Udinese (on away goals).
In the Champions League the Bianconeri reached the semi-finals but were eliminated by Manchester United 3-4 on aggregate while in the Coppa Italia they lost to Bologna on away goals in the quarter finals.
So, a trophyless year for Juventus whose top scorer was Filippo Inzaghi with 20 goals (13 in league).
Lazio 1998-99
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 34 | 20 | 9 | 5 | 65 |
Coppa Italia | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
Cup Winners Cup | 9 | 4 | 5 | - | 16 |
Super Coppa | 1 | 1 | - | - | 2 |
Total | 50 | 29 | 15 | 6 | 95 |
Top Five Appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Cup Winners Cup | Super Coppa |
Marchegiani | 48 | 34 | 5 | 8 | 1 |
Mancini | 47 | 33 | 6 | 7 | 1 |
Conceição | 44 | 33 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
Mihajlovic | 44 | 30 | 4 | 9 | 1 |
Salas | 43 | 30 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
Top Five Goal Scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Cup Winners Cup |
Salas | 24 | 15 | 5 | 4 |
Vieri | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
Mancini | 12 | 10 | 2 | - |
Mihajlovic | 9 | 8 | 1 | - |
Stankovic | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
Let's talk about Sérgio Conceição
Sérgio Paulo Marceneiro Conceição was born in Coimbra, Portugal, on November 15, 1974.
He started his career playing for local team Associação Académica.
His early years as a player were in the Segunda Liga with Penafiel (‘93- ‘94, with 30 matches and 2 goals), Leça (’94 -‘95, with 24 matches and 3 goals) and Felgueiras (‘95-‘96, with 30 matches and 4 goals).
In 1996 he made the big step up to Porto. He immediately played regularly and in two seasons played 46 league games with 9 goals, 6 in the Portuguese Cup with 1 goal, 11 in the Champions League and 4 in the Portuguese Supercup. In this period, he won two league titles, a Portuguese Cup and a Portuguese Supercup.
In the summer of 1998 he joined Lazio. He only stayed two years but they were highly successful under Sven-Goran Eriksson. In his first official game he scored the winner in the Italian Supercoppa beating Juventus 2-1. In May 1999 Lazio won the European Cup Winners Cup and the European Super Cup, in 2000 the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia for a historic double.
Conceição played 63 league games with 7 goals (Inter x2, Inter again, Vicenza, Venezia, Perugia, Bologna), 9 in Coppa Italia, 14 in Europe (5 CWC, 9 CL) with 3 goals (Lausanne, Maribor, Olimpique Marseille) and the Italian Supercup.
In 2000 the fans were sad to see him move to Parma in the deal that brought striker Hernan Crespo to Lazio. In Emilia he only stayed one season. The Gialloblù finished 4th (CL qualification) under Alberto Malesani (1-13), Arrigo Sacchi (14-16) and Renzo Ulivieri (17-34). The "Ducali" also reached the Coppa Italia final but lost to Fiorentina 1-2 on aggregate. He played 25 league games with 5 goals (Bologna, Lazio, Atalanta, Fiorentina, Brescia), 5 in Coppa Italia and 6 in the UEFA Cup with 2 goals (Pobeda, Munich 1860).
In 2001 he moved to Inter and was reunited with Christian Vieri. Here he was coached by Héctor Cúper. In his first year Inter threw away the Scudetto on the last game of the season, losing 4-2 to Lazio on the infamous 5th of May. They reached the UEFA Cup semi-final but lost 2-3 on aggregate to Feyenoord. Conceição played 23 league 6 with 1 goal (Udinese), 1 in Coppa Italia and 8 in the UEFA Cup.
In his second season with the Nerazzurri he played slightly less in the league, 19 games, 1 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Bari) but was protagonist in the Champions League with 13 games. Inter finished 2nd in Serie A and reached the semi-finals of Champions League but were beaten by city rivals Milan on away goals.
In 2002-2003 he came back to Lazio. Here he found his former team mate Roberto Mancini as manager. Conceição struggled with fitness but played 7 league games, 2 in Coppa Italia and 7 in the Champions League. In January however he returned to Porto.
He played another 12 games for "os Dragões" and won another league title.
In 2004 he moved to Belgium and played three seasons for Standard Liège. He totalled 91 games with 22 goals. In his first year he was voted Player of the Year in Belgium. "Les Rouches" (The Reds in Liège accent). In 2005 Standard finished 2nd in the league while in 2007 they lost the final of the Belgian Cup to Club Brugge 0-1. In 2006 he was banned for 4.5 months for spitting on an opposing player and assaulting the referee.
In 2007 he moved to Kuwait to Qadsia SC but did not settle and in January joined PAOK FC in Greece, where Portuguese Fernando Santos was coach. He stayed two seasons and in the second suffered from knee problems. He made 47 appearances and scored 6 goals. In January 2010 he retired.
He won 56 caps for Portugal with 12 goals. He played in Euro 2000 scoring a hat-trick against Germany and reaching the semi-finals. He also played in the 2002 World Cup.
After a couple of years, he went into coaching. He started off in Portugal, in 2012 he was at Olhanense (11th), 2013 Académica Coimbra, 2014 Braga (4th) and 2015 Vitória Guimarães. In 2016 he moved to Nantes in France and finished 7th in Ligue 1.
In 2017 he was ready to return to Porto. Since going back to "os Azuis e Brancos" he has won 3 league titles, 3 Supercups and 3 Portuguese Cups. He has established himself as one of European top coaches.
Conceição was an attacking midfielder. He was physically strong at 1.78 metres and 74 kilos. He usually played on the right wing and had strength, dribbling skills, good shooting abilities and an excellent cross. He was a hard worker and could defend and cover as well as pushing forward.
He has had a 2,500-seater stadium named after him in his home town of Coimbra, famous for its university and library. On a family note he has five children, two of whom have played under him at Porto.
At Lazio he was a great success and a fan favourite. He had his own chant "O meu amigo Conceição" based on the Charlie Brown tune. In his two years he won five trophies and was part of the most winning period in Lazio's history. He was popular because he was a fighter but also technically gifted. Some of his crosses in his first year for Salas and Vieri are text book stuff. He was also always willing to contribute on local Lazio radio and TV programmes so generally integrating well into the "piazza" as they say here (basically the local environment). As part of the 2000 Scudetto winning team Sergio Conceição will always be welcome in Rome. Obrigado Sérgio! Many dream of him one day returning as manager.
Lazio Career
Season | Total games (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League | Cup Winners Cup | Super Coppa |
1998-99 | 44 (7) | 33 (5) | 5 | - | 5 (1) | 1 (1) |
1999-00 | 43 (4) | 30 (2) | 4 | 9 (2) | | - |
2003-Jan 2004 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 | | - |
Total | 113 (11) | 70 (7) | 11 | 16 (2) | 5 (1) | 1 (1) |
Sources
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