Lazio overturn Milan to continue cup dream
A late equaliser and a goal in extratime give Lazio rare win in Milan
Also on this day: December 3, 2010, Lazio Inter 3-1. Lazio earned a hard fought but deserved victory over previous season's “Triplete” winners. Lazio Hero of the day: Giuseppe Biava
The season so far
Lazio had finished 12th the previous season under Delio Rossi. A disappointing campaign, the highlight beating Roma 3-2 in March with a 92nd minute Valon Behrami winner. In the Coppa Italia Lazio had reached the semi-finals but lost to Inter 0-2 on aggregate.
This season Rossi was still in charge and the main new players were keeper Juan Pablo Carrizo (finally… from River Plate), defender Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lille), midfielders Cristian Brocchi (Milan), Pasquale Foggia (Cagliari-end of loan), Francelino Matuzalém (Real Zaragozza-on loan) plus forwards Mauro Zárate (Al-Saad -on loan) and Libor Kozak (Opava).
Leaving were popular keeper Marco Ballotta (Calcara Samoggia), defender Luciano Zauri (Fiorentina- on loan), midfielders Valon Behrami (West Ham United), Gaby Mudingayi (Bologna), Roberto Baronio (Brescia -on loan) plus strikers Rolando Bianchi (Manchester City- end of loan) and Igli Tare (retiring but he would be back in another role).
So far in Serie A Lazio had played 14 games and won 7, drawn 2 and lost 5 (including derby 0-1). Lazio were in 5th position.
This evening's game however was in a different competition, the Coppa Italia. Lazio had started their cup campaign in August beating Benevento 5-1 at home. In October the Biancocelesti then defeated Atalanta 2-0 at home. Today was a last 16 game and of a higher level of difficulty, away to Milan. Top scorer so far in the cup was Goran Pandev with 3 goals.
Milan had finished 5th (UEFA Cup) the previous season under Carlo Ancelotti. The Rossoneri however had won both the UEFA Super Cup (Seville 3-1) and the World Cup for clubs (Boca Juniors 4-2).
This season Ancelotti stayed on and the main new players were Christian Abbiati (Atlético Madrid -back from loan), defenders Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona) and Philippe Senderos (Arsenal-on loan), midfielder Mathieu Flamini (free agent) and above all Ronaldinho (Barcelona) and Andrij Šhevchenko (Chelsea -on loan).
Leaving were defenders Cafu (retiring), Massimo Oddo (Bayern Munich), midfielders Cristian Brocchi (Lazio), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux-on loan), Serginho (retiring) plus forwards Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Dijon-on loan), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina) and Ronaldo (end of contract).
So far in Serie A Milan were in 3rd position after 8 wins (including Lazio 4-1 and Inter 1-0), 3 draws and 3 defeats (the first two games and then the very recent 1-3 away to Palermo). Ronaldinho had already scored 7 league goals.
In the UEFA Cup Milan had qualified for the group phase defeating Zurich 4-1 on aggregate. They had then been grouped with Dutch Heerenveen (3-1 away), Portuguese Braga (1-0 at home) and Portsmouth (2-2 away). They still had one last game against German Wolfsburg in December.
Tonight was a Coppa Italia game in which this was Milan's debut, as in Italy the better placed teams from the previous season have various advantages including entering the competition later and playing at home.
Judging on league form Milan were favourites tonight but this was the Coppa Italia in which Lazio have a good tradition.
The match: Wednesday, December 3, 2008, Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
A cold, misty midweek day did not bring out many fans to the old San Siro stadium.
Milan were without Alexandre Pato and Rino Gattuso was suspended but had three Golden Boots up front: Kakà, Shevchenko and Ronaldinho. Lazio responded with Tommaso Rocchi- Goran Pandev in attack and Pasquale Foggia in support.
The game started with both sides cautious but Milan attacked more. The "Diavolo's" first chance came in the 18th minute and it was a huge one. Ronaldinho teed up Shevchenko who had only Fernando Muslera to beat but the "Castorino" (The Little Beaver) saved.
Lazio replied in the 24th minute with Lichsteiner, who had a shot whistle just wide of the post and in the 34th an Aleksandar Kolarov freekick, from the right side of the box, was double fisted away by Dida.
The game continued without major goal scoring chances. Milan going forward but they were slow and predictable. Lazio looked sharper on the counter attack but were unable to find the last decisive assist to threaten.
In the 40th minute Lazio lost Lichtsteiner through injury and he was replaced by Mourad Meghni.
The first half ended with two chances finally, one each. First Mathieu Flamini saw his low drive go just wide and then Pandev had a deflected shot heading for the top hand corner but Dida flew and pushed it away into corner. Half time Milan 0 Lazio 0.
A balanced first half with few chances but evenly distributed.
There were no changes for the second half. In the 53rd minute Lazio went very close to scoring, Rocchi set up Pandev who turned and sent a low left foot towards the bottom corner but Dida dived brilliantly to his right and got a hand to it.
In the 66th minute came a potential game changer when former Roma Emerson was sent off for a second yellow after a foul on Cristian Ledesma. Ancelotti then changed Clarence Seedorf for a more defensive Gianluca Zambrotta.
Lazio almost immediately took advantage but a venomous Kolarov free kick was kept out by Dida.
In 70th minute Ronaldinho could thank his lucky stars he was not sent off too, after clearly elbowing David Rozehnal in the face but unseen by the referee.
A minute later Lazio replaced Rocchi with Mauro Zárate. Lazio were now in control and in the 75th minute Foggia's powerful, high strike from a tight angle was promising but saved into corner by Dida.
A minute later however Milan scored. In the 76th minute Shevchenko, who had missed a sitter in the first half, invented a gem, he raced forward gaining space at the edge of the box dribbling Meghni and then beat Muslera with a superb left-footed, low curling shot on the far post. Milan 1 Lazio 0.
A huge blow for Lazio who had been dominating the last period. Milan then changed Luca Antonini with Marek Jankulovski to face Lazio’s predictable assault.
Lazio threw themselves forward and in the 84th minute a cracking Lorenzo De Silvestri long range shot, following a corner, was blocked centrally by Dida. In the 85th minute Lazio replaced Ousmane Dabo with more creative Stefano Mauri. Meanwhile a minute earlier the Rossoneri had taken off the provisional match winner "Sheva" with young Mathias Cardacio.
In the 87th minute Lazio's pressure paid off, even if via a penalty given away by their former player Giuseppe Favalli. The "Professore" fouled Pandev just inside the box and Zarate equalised with the spotkick. He sent the ball to Dida's left who barely moved. Milan 1 Lazio 1. Lazio tried to win it with two more long range shots by Meghni and Kolarov but Dida was safe. Full time score 1-1 and extra-time.
Lazio scored immediately. In the 92nd minute Pandev brilliantly controlled the ball in the area from a high cross, beat his man and shot but Dida parried, the ball fell to Zárate, whose shot was walled by Senderos and the ball came back to Pandev who this time fired into the roof of the net. Milan 1 Lazio 2.
Milan almost drew level a minute later when Ronaldinho's freekick took a deflection off the wall and hit the post.
Lazio from then on controlled well and only conceded a low, central Cardacio shot saved well by Muslera and another Ronaldinho freekick that went well high over the bar.
In fact, in the 112th minute it was Lazio who went closest to putting the game to rest. Foggia found himself unmarked in front of Dida but hammered the ball against the Brazilian from close range, on the rebound Mauri had another go but his shot was walled by Kakhaber Kaladze.
Milan tired and Lazio, with the extra man, kept possession not allowing the hosts to be dangerous again. Final score Milan 1 Lazio 2.
A deserved win for Lazio who, although helped by Milan being in ten men (but they should have been in nine), battled hard and always believed they could get the win. Wins in San Siro against Milan are few and far between and always satisfying. Next up, Torino at home in December. Lazio, the cup chasers, were determined to get to the Olimpico for the final on May 13. The road was still long but tonight was a giant step closer.
Who played for Milan
Dida, Antonini (76' Jankulovski), Senderos, Kaladze, Favalli, Flamini, Emerson, Seedorf (69' Zambrotta), Kakà, Ronaldinho, Shevchenko (84' Cardacio)
Substitutes: Kalac, Maldini, Darmian, Strasser
Manager: Ancelotti
Who played for Lazio
Muslera, De Silvestri, Diakité, Rozehnal, Kolarov, Dabo (85' Mauri), Ledesma, Lichtsteiner (40' Meghni), Foggia, Rocchi (71' Zarate), Pandev
Manager: D.Rossi
Referee: Ayroldi
Goals: 76' Shevchenko, 87' Zarate (pen), 92' (extra-time)
What happened next
Lazio finished 10th in Serie A. The highlight was beating Roma 4-2 in April. Top scorer was Zárate with 16 goals (13 in A).
Things definitely went better in the Coppa Italia. On January 22, in the quarter finals, Lazio beat Torino 3-1, coming from behind with goals by Pandev, Mauri and Rocchi.
Then came the double-legged semi-final against Juventus. In Rome, in March, Lazio won 2-1 again coming from behind with Pandev and Rocchi. The Biancocelesti then also won in Turin with goals by Zárate and Kolarov while Alessandro Del Piero pulled one back for the Zebras. Lazio were in the final.
On May 13 Lazio faced Sampdoria in Rome (Olimpico is now fixed final venue). A hard-fought game ended up 1-1 with goals by Zárate and Giampaolo Pazzini. The penalty shootout went Lazio's way after seven penalties, Muslera saving two and Ousmane Dabo firing home the winning spot kick. Lazio 7 Sampdoria 6. Lazio won their 5th cup and it was a fitting end to Delio Rossi's positive reign with the Biancocelesti. Next up the Supercoppa against Inter, in August in Beijing, but that's another story.
Milan finished 3rd in the league. In January they brought in David Beckham (LA Galaxy-on loan) but arrived ten points behind champions Inter. They got revenge on Lazio in February winning 3-0 in the league in Rome. Top scorer was Pato with 18 total goals while in Serie A it was Kakà with 16.
In the UEFA Cup Milan drew 2-2 with Wolfsburg and qualified for the last 32. The Rossoneri then went out to another German team, Werder Bremen on away goals.
As mentioned, Inter won the Scudetto (17th in total and 4th consecutive) while the dreaded track down to Serie B was for Torino, Lecce and Reggina (the Calabresi have not been back in the top flight since).
Lazio 2008-09
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 38 | 15 | 5 | 18 | 48 |
Coppa Italia | 7 | 6 | 1 | - | 17 |
Total | 45 | 21 | 6 | 18 | 63 |
Top five appearances (complete player statistics)
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Cristian Ledesma | 41 | 34 | 7 |
41 | 36 | 5 | |
Pasquale Foggia | 40 | 33 | 7 |
39 | 33 | 6 | |
37 | 31 | 6 |
Top goal scorers (complete player statistics)
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Mauro Zarate | 16 | 13 | 3 |
Goran Pandev | 15 | 9 | 6 |
Tommaso Rocchi | 11 | 9 | 2 |
Let's talk about David Rozehnal
David Rozehnal was born in Šternberk, Czech Republic, on July 5, 1980.
At a young age he alternated between two clubs, Sokol Kožušany and Sigma Olomouc.
It was for the latter, bigger club that he made his professional debut in 1999. He stayed four seasons, playing 72 league games and scoring 2 goals. The Blue and Whites best finish was a 3rd place in 2001.
In 2003 he joined Club Brugges in Belgium. He stayed two seasons with the "Blauw en Zwart" (Blue and Blacks) and played 50 league games with 1 goal. In Bruges he won one league title, a Belgian Cup and two Belgian Super Cups. The manager was Norwegian Trond Sollied.
In 2005 he joined P.S.G in Paris where he stayed two seasons. The Parisiens finished 9th and 15th but won the Coupe de France in 2006 beating Olympique Marseille 2-1. He played 75 league games and scored 1 goal. His managers were Laurent Fournier, Guy Lacombe and Paul Le Guen.
In 2007 he joined Newcastle United in the Premier League. He only stayed with the Magpies until January, playing 21 league games. The manager was Sam Allardyce (he too would leave in January) and the Geordies eventually finished 12th (under Kevin Keegan).
In January 2008 Rozehnal joined Lazio. The manager was Delio Rossi and the Biancocelesti were in difficulty. Already out of the Champions League (in a group with Real Madrid, Werder Bremen and Olympiakos) they were hovering around 14th place in Serie A. Rozehnal played 10 league games and Lazio finished 12th. The competition at the back was tough with Emilson Cribari, Sebastiano Siviglia, Stefan Radu and Modibo Diakité in the squad. The highlight was beating Roma, in March, 3-2 with a 92nd minute Behrami winner.
The following season Rozehnal stayed in Rome and played more regularly. He made 28 league appearances and 5 in Coppa Italia. Lazio finished 10th in Serie A (the highlight again beating Roma 4-2) but triumphed in the Coppa Italia. The Biancocelesti eliminated Benevento 5-1, Atalanta 2-0, Milan 2-1 away, Torino 3-1 and Juventus 4-2 on aggregate to set up a final against Sampdoria, in Rome.
On May 13 Lazio drew 1-1 with the Blucerchiati (Zárate, Pazzini) and the game went to penalties. With the shootout on 3-2 to Sampdoria, Rozehnal stepped up and slotted in his. The Biancocelesti went on to win 6-5 (7-6 in total) with Muslera saving two and Dabo scoring the winner. A wonderful night for all Laziali.
In 2009 Rozehnal left Lazio and joined SV Hamburger in the Bundesliga. He only stayed with the "Rothosen" (The Red Trousers) for one season, playing 23 league games with 1 goal. The manager was Bruno Labbadia until April and then Dutchman Ricardo Moniz and the "Hanseaten" (The Hanseatics) finished 7th and reached the semi-finals of Europa League (Fulham 1-2 on aggregate), a pity because the final was at the Imtech Arena in Hamburg.
In 2010 he joined Lille in France. He stayed five seasons, playing 75 league games and scoring 2 goals. "Les Dogues" (The Mastiffs) won the Ligue 1 and the French Cup in his first year and then finished 3rd, 6th,3rd and 8th. His managers were Rudi Garcia, for the first three years, and then René Girard.
In 2015 he had three more seasons in Belgium with Oostende. He played 45 league games for "De Kustboys" (The Coastal Boys) and finished 5th, 4th and 11th. The manager was Yves Vanderhaeghe.
In 2016 at 36 he retired.
Rozehnal had a good international career with the Czech Republic, winning 60 caps and scoring 1 goal (Belgium). He played in the World Cup of 2006 and in Euro 2008. He also played 8 times, with 1 goal, for the U21's, winning the European Championship in 2002.
He had a satisfying club career playing 399 professional league games and winning silverware in three different countries; Belgium (1 league title, 1 Cup and 3 Super Cups), France (1 league title and 2 Cups) and Italy (1 Cup).
Rozehnal was a central defender. At 1.93 and 77 kilos he was a strong and physical player but clean. He was solid and reliable, no frills but rarely making mistakes. With his height he was obviously good in the air but only defensively as his very few career goals can testify.
At Lazio he is fondly remembered. In his only full season, he played regularly and put in good performances. It was a Lazio going through some difficulties but these were swept away with a good derby win and above all the Coppa Italia triumph. Rozehnal was third up in the tense cup final shootout, he placed a perfect mid-height penalty to the right of the Sampdoria keeper and Lazio then went on to lift the cup. Sweet memories.
Lazio Career
Season | Apperances | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Jan-Jun 2008 | 10 | 10 | - |
2008-09 | 33 | 28 | 5 |
Total | 43 | 38 | 5 |
Sources